The President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), Gernot Marx, believes that a fifth vaccination against the corona virus may be appropriate for older people in autumn. “Should there be a vaccine from October that protects against infection with the BA.4 or BA.5 variants, a fifth vaccination would make sense,” says Marx of the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. It is important to build up the capacities in centers or medical practices.
Currently, 61.8 percent of the population have received a booster vaccination, 7.5 percent a second booster vaccination. A few days ago, leading EU authorities recommended a second booster vaccination for everyone over 60.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) – the body responsible for Germany – only recommends this to people over the age of 70 and some risk groups. Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) also advises people under the age of 60 to be vaccinated against Corona a fourth time after consulting their doctor.
Divi President Marx also called on people to get the flu shot. “Otherwise, I fear that many people with flu and severe courses could further aggravate the situation in the intensive care units – as we are seeing in Australia right now,” said Marx.
According to the President of the German District Association, Reinhard Sager, the population is currently being “infested” with the corona virus. “But that’s not tragic. That could even help us because not so many people can be infected at the same time in autumn,” said the CDU politician of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. It is important to protect risk groups.
