The Federal Ministry of Health has ordered 15 million doses of vaccine against the coronavirus. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said this in a Interview with the West German General Newspaper. “I assume that we will be fine with the quantity. If demand is greater, we can reorder at any time,” he said.
Accordingly, there will probably be two adapted vaccines for autumn and winter. “The vaccine initially delivered by BioNTech is adapted to the JN.1 variant that is currently prevalent in our country – we have ordered six million doses of this in the first tranche,” said Lauterbach. There will also be a protein vaccine again. The first doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in doctors’ offices this week.
“It is still unclear whether we will need another vaccine over the course of the winter that will have to be adapted to a variant that is widespread in the USA. Even then, we would be prepared,” said Lauterbach.
High-risk patients and the elderly should be vaccinated
According to the Federal Minister of Health, there will be “a lot of infections again” in the coming months. The coronavirus remains a threat, especially for older people and high-risk patients. “I therefore recommend a booster vaccination for everyone in this group,” said Lauterbach. An exception are those who have already been infected with the coronavirus once this year.
Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) had called for vaccination campaigns for risk groups in view of the increasing number of corona infections. Vaccination rates for older people and health workers have fallen alarmingly and have reached a miserable level, said WHO expert Maria Van Kerkhove.
Coronavirus
More on the topic
Z+ (subscription required content); RKI protocols: “Heavy pressure” from above
Z+ (subscription required content); Sport despite corona infection: “That was a bad example. Exactly how you shouldn’t do it”
Z+ (subscription required content); Mask affair: What do they have to hide?
The Federal Ministry of Health has ordered 15 million doses of vaccine against the coronavirus. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said this in a Interview with the West German General Newspaper. “I assume that we will be fine with the quantity. If demand is greater, we can reorder at any time,” he said.
Accordingly, there will probably be two adapted vaccines for autumn and winter. “The vaccine initially delivered by BioNTech is adapted to the JN.1 variant that is currently prevalent in our country – we have ordered six million doses of this in the first tranche,” said Lauterbach. There will also be a protein vaccine again. The first doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in doctors’ offices this week.