The pandemic seems to have happened forever ago. Quarantine, curfews, contact bans – all of that is a thing of the past. However, the virus is still here and is continuing to mutate. Covid-19 is currently causing more cases of illness again.
According to the RKI, the number of cases has been rising steadily for weeks. Incidence: 1,000 infected people per 100,000 inhabitants (as of week 36). The number of unreported cases is probably much higher – after all, only cases that have been confirmed by PCR testing are recorded. Experts therefore assume that the autumn wave is just beginning.
Shouldn’t we get another vaccination now? After all, it’s been quite a while since most people were last immunized.
Should we all get vaccinated again?
No! The recommendation of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO):
Only people at risk of a serious course of the disease should be vaccinated every autumn OR people who have not yet been vaccinated. Anyone with at least three antigen contacts is considered vaccinated – one of which should be the vaccination. This means: one vaccination and two recovered corona infections or twice vaccinated and once recovered.
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Who needs the annual vaccination?
► People aged 60 and over
► Immunocompromised people (e.g. due to chemotherapy)
► People (aged six months and over) with an underlying disease that can cause severe corona disease (e.g. diabetes, kidney disease)
► Residents and employees in elderly care or nursing homes
BUT: “Those who have just had an infection do not need to be vaccinated again straight away. This applies to everyone, including high-risk patients,” emphasizes virologist Prof. Dr. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit.
How contagious is the new Corona variant?
KP.3.1.1 is the name of the variant that dominates the infection situation in Germany. It is more infectious than its predecessors and appears to be better able to evade antibodies. However, this does not mean that KP.3.1.1 is more dangerous. More severe cases are not to be expected.
The symptoms are classic: fever, cough, shortness of breath, aching limbs, loss of taste and/or smell.
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Are there vaccinations specifically against the variant?
Yes! Biontech’s “Comirnaty JN.1” has been available since August. Moderna’s “Spikevax” is expected to be available in Germany from October 1. Both vaccines are tailored to the omicron variant JN.1 – KP.3.1.1 is a subtype of it.
By the way: The vaccination is also carried out in many pharmacies.
