The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), which is responsible for vaccination recommendations in Germany, has so far only spoken out in favor of a second corona booster vaccination for a few groups – but an extension is now in prospect. According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, a Stiko recommendation for a second booster should now generally come for all people over 60 years of age. That’s what the “Bild” wrote on Monday, citing a confidential draft by Stiko.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) initially did not comment on the “Bild” report on the expansion of the Stiko recommendation. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) wrote via Twitter: “Thanks to the
So far, Stiko had only recommended the second booster to people over the age of 70, people in care facilities, people with an immune deficiency and an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses from the age of five and employees in medical facilities and care facilities. According to the “Bild”, the countries can now discuss the Stiko draft.
The EU authorities ECDC and EMA had previously called on the member states to offer second boosters from the age of 60. Lauterbach had also repeatedly brought up a second booster for broader sections of the population. People over 60 should not wait for the adapted Omicron vaccine, he emphasized in his tweet. “Now the risk is already there. Existing vaccines protect against a severe course,” says Lauterbach.
Bavaria’s Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek (CSU) said that the new Stiko vaccination recommendations would be “good news” if they came as reported. Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, also welcomed the plans to expand the recommendation in the Düsseldorf Rheinische Post (Tuesday). He also derived a clear statement for people under the age of 60, “namely that people with a healthy immune system who are younger than 60 do not benefit from a second booster, and this is therefore not recommended in general”.
Stiko boss Mertens recently justified the longer reluctance to extend the recommendation for the second booster by not knowing any data that would justify a general second booster vaccination for all adults.
With a view to Corona regulations for the fall, CDU leader Merz meanwhile told the dpa: “A general mask requirement in public spaces? no On what grounds?” Lauterbach had made it clear that he expected masks to be compulsory across the board from October. Merz emphasized that he was against such an obligation “just because of suspicion, because encroachments on fundamental rights must be carefully justified”. But if there are certain endangered rooms – hospitals, old people’s homes, care facilities to protect residents and people working there – his answer is yes to the mask requirement.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr expressed his irritation at Merz’s statements. “The federal government will not introduce a nationwide mask requirement in Germany. A mask requirement indoors is in the hands of the countries,” he told the dpa. It was Union Prime Ministers who wanted numerous instruments for the fall. “If Mr. Merz rejects the obligation to wear masks, it can be assumed that the federal states led by the Union will not introduce them either.” That is why the federal states should not order them across the board.
