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The Stiko recommends a booster vaccination for older people. Kasper Ravlox/Zoonar/Imago © IMAGO/Zoonar II
The Omicron relative KP3.1.1 is currently dominant in Corona. The vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer adapted to JN1 is available in Germany.
Frankfurt – In offices, on public transport, in shops or in private circles, they can be heard more often again: people coughing, blowing their noses, speaking with a nasal or hoarse voice. For several weeks now – and thus already during the summer months, which are actually atypical for this – the number of respiratory infections in Germany has been rising, as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports in its current weekly report. This covers the period from September 2 to September 9, the next one will be published on Wednesday (September 18).
The “activity” of acute respiratory diseases is at a “higher level” than is usual for the time of year, it is said. The main causes are rhinoviruses (24 percent) and Sars-CoV-2 (21 percent). Parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses and seasonal coronaviruses follow at some distance, all of which cause flu-like infections. Influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) currently play hardly any role. In the case of corona, the Ministry of Health’s infection radar puts the current seven-day incidence of laboratory-confirmed cases at 6.3 per 1,000 people.
Most respiratory infections are currently mild – including corona
Good news: The vast majority of respiratory infections are currently mild, even with a corona infection. Out of a million people, only about two have to be treated in an intensive care unit because of Covid-19. This is probably mainly due to the fact that most people have basic immunity through vaccinations and/or previous infections. As a result, you usually don’t get seriously ill, but you can still infect yourself (and others).
The fact that Sars-CoV-2 is constantly mutating makes it all the easier for the virus to circumvent existing immunity. In Germany and Europe, the KP.3.1.1 variant currently dominates, accounting for an estimated 70 percent of corona infections. It is a descendant of the Omicron variant that first appeared in November 2021 and from which all subvariants that have prevailed since then can be traced back.
Corona variant KP.3.1.1 is even more contagious and resistant to antibodies than its predecessors
KP.3.1.1. is one of the FLIRT variants, whose names refer to mutations in the spike protein that the virus uses to attach itself to cells and penetrate them. According to a study published in the journal The Lancet According to a study published in Japan, KP.3.1.1 is even more contagious and resistant to existing antibodies than its predecessors XBB.1.5 and JN.1. However, there is no evidence to date that KP.3.1.1 causes more severe cases.
The tendency of Sars-CoV-2 to mutate means that vaccine manufacturers are always lagging behind the current state of the virus when it comes to developing adapted vaccines. The new mRNA vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer is tailored to the JN.1 variant that precedes KP.3.1.1. It cannot reliably prevent infection – although protection against infection is highest in the first few weeks after vaccination and then decreases continuously. However, like the previous vaccines, it should be able to reliably prevent a serious course of the disease.
In Germany, only the vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer is currently available as a corona booster
In Germany, the only current booster available since the end of August is the mRNA vaccine “Comirnaty JN.1” from Biontech/Pfizer – in three different dosages: for adults and children from twelve years of age and two weaker doses for children from six months and from four years of age. The adapted mRNA vaccine from the US manufacturer Moderna is not yet on the market in Germany.
Anyone who wants to get a booster but does not want an mRNA vaccine will have to wait a little longer. The US company Novavax has also developed a new version of its protein-based vaccine “Nuvaxovid”, but this is not yet available in Germany. Novavax’s vaccine, which has been adapted to JN.1, is expected to be available in Germany in the fall. In the USA, however, it has already been approved since the end of August. The current vaccines available there from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna are not tailored to JN.1 as in Europe, but to the KP2 variant. However, this is no longer the dominant variant in the USA, nor is JN.1, but has been overtaken by KP.3.1.1.
Stiko recommends booster vaccination against Corona for people aged 60 and over
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko) maintains its recommendation that a booster vaccination with the new vaccine is advisable for people aged 60 and over. It also advises anyone who has an increased risk of a serious course of the disease to get a booster. Regardless of age, this includes people with underlying diseases such as diabetes, chronic cardiovascular, liver and kidney diseases such as COPD or a weak immune system. People with trisomy 21 should also get vaccinated again. The same applies to residents of nursing homes, medical and nursing staff, relatives and close contacts who are not expected to have a protective immune response after a Covid vaccination.
The Stiko does not make any recommendations for healthy people between the ages of 18 and 59; for them, “basic immunization” is sufficient. This means at least three “immunological events” (vaccination or infection); at least one of these should be a vaccination.
Corona: Children with underlying diseases should be boosted regularly
According to Stiko, healthy children and adolescents do not need a corona vaccination. Babies from six months of age and children and adolescents under 18 who are in the risk group due to certain underlying diseases should be vaccinated and regularly boosted, the committee advises.
In principle, the Stiko recommends repeating the Corona booster vaccination every twelve months, preferably in the autumn. Anyone who has had a Covid infection should wait at least three months before being vaccinated.
Symptoms of infection
The KP.3.1.1 variant essentially does not cause any different symptoms than previous omicron subvariants. These include cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, stuffy nose, tiredness, headache, aching limbs or fever. Gastrointestinal complaints can also occur, such as nausea or vomiting; diarrhea can be an early symptom of infection. Disturbances of the sense of smell and taste are possible, but are less common in omicron variants than in previous variants.
Anyone who wants to know whether they have a corona infection can do a rapid antigen test at home. These should also work with KP.3.1.1 – with the uncertainties that already existed with earlier variants, such as a false-negative result with a low viral load.
Vaccination against flu and corona
Similar recommendations apply to the flu vaccination: it is particularly useful for people over 60, for people with underlying illnesses, residents of nursing homes and for medical and nursing staff, as well as for pregnant women and people who work with many people or have regular contact with risk groups.
Anyone who wants to be vaccinated against Covid and flu needs two different vaccinations. According to Stiko, there is no need for a time gap. However, unpleasant vaccination reactions can then be more severe, so those who are prone to this may prefer to wait a few weeks.
Moderna has developed a combined corona flu vaccine using mRNA technology that could soon be on the market. A single dose is intended to protect against both diseases. According to a press release from the company, most of the 8,000 participants in a phase 3 clinical trial developed protective antibodies. The vaccine is as effective as vaccines that only protect against one of the two diseases. Moderna describes the side effects as moderate.
Novavax is also planning to launch a combined coronavirus-flu vaccine – based on protein – and has signed a licensing agreement with the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which has been producing the usual flu vaccines for years.
Does the corona vaccination protect against long Covid?
It is not clear whether a vaccination protects against long Covid. Studies produce contradictory results. The RKI tends to estimate that the probability of long Covid is up to 60 percent lower in vaccinated people. However, in rare cases the vaccination itself can also lead to symptoms such as those that occur with long Covid.
Mandatory mask wearing and contact restrictions are currently a thing of the past. However, experts advise people at risk of a serious course of the disease to protect themselves by wearing a mask as infection rates rise – especially indoors where many people come together, or on buses and trains. (pam)
