Advertisement

Germany recommends mRNA Covid vaccine after AstraZeneca

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Germany recommends mRNA Covid vaccine after AstraZeneca
Ein Schild mit der Aufschrift "Impfen Eingang" steht vor der Sächsischen Landesärztekammer. Am 30. Juni 2021 können sich Impfwillige ohne Termin in der Landesärztekammer mit dem Corona-Vakzin von Astrazeneca impfen lassen. +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

Germany's Standing Vaccine Commission (STIKO) has issued updated Covid vaccination advice in light of the spread of Delta, stating that the second dose after AstraZeneca should be an mRNA vaccine, regardless of the patient's age.

Advertisement

With the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant in Germany, the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) is adapting its vaccination recommendations.

Under the latest advice, people who have received a first dose of AstraZeneca should in future receive an mRNA vaccine such as BioNTech or Moderna as their second injection, regardless of their age, the committee announced on Thursday.

The interval between the first and second dose should then be at least four weeks. The recommendation will apply "subject to the feedback from the comment procedure," it said.

Advertisement

The advice is justified by recent studies that have shown that the immune response after two doses of different types of vaccine - first vector, then mRNA vaccine - is “clearly superior” to the immune response after two doses of AstraZeneca.

Chancellor Angela Merkel had received a Moderna second jab after getting an AstraZeneca injection for her first.

READ ALSO: Covid vaccine mix-and-match: Why is it so common in Germany – and is it safe?

STIKO had previously only recommended this to younger people who had already received an initial vaccination with AstraZeneca.

In their latest recommendation, the commission emphasised that in view of the significantly more contagious Delta variant, it was important to “take the second vaccine dose on time”.

After just one vaccine dose, the protection against Delta seems to be "significantly reduced".

READ ALSO: Should Germany shorten Covid vaccine intervals to combat Delta?

For fully vaccinated people, the protection offered against severe courses of the disease is similar for Delta as it is for other variants, the experts said, citing recent data from the United Kingdom.

STIKO now recommends the following intervals between the two required vaccine doses: three to six weeks for Biontech/Pfizer, four to six weeks for Moderna, nine to 12 weeks for AstraZeneca (if the patient receives two doses of the same vaccine) and "from four weeks" for the combination of AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccine.

The German government usually follows STIKO's recommendations.

Germany expects the Delta variant to take over as the dominant strain of the coronavirus in the country in the coming days.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

rick_603f9d6364f9a 2021/07/02 09:02
Now if only it were possible to book your second dose with another vaccine online, if you got AstraZeneca for the initial dose...
  • peachrt 2021/07/05 13:04
    As of Today (Monday 5th July) our local Impfzentrum is Taking appointments for mRNA shots as your 2nd dose if you had AstraZeneca as your first, regardless of where you got the first shot. Hopefully your local Impfzenrum will do the same

See Also