Table of Contents
- Why is it still necessary to vaccinate against Corona?
- Why does the existing vaccine need to be adapted?
- Which variant are the new vaccines targeting?
- Are the new vaccines as safe and effective as the previous ones?
- Who should get vaccinated now?
- How long should I wait to get vaccinated after a Covid infection?
- What you need to know about the new coronavirus vaccine
Why is it still necessary to vaccinate against Corona?
Especially because the virus Sars-CoV-2 is still among us and can still seriously make people ill. Around New Year's, over 1200 people with Covid-19 had to be treated in intensive care in our country. Currently, there are fewer than 200 patients. However, a significant increase must also be expected for the coming winter, when several pathogens may collide.
Many people already have a basic immunity to corona because they have been vaccinated and have also been infected with Covid-19 at least once. However, this "double" immunity shows the fundamental problem: There is still no vaccine that protects against infection and not just against a severe course of the disease. This is of course particularly important. However, infections continue to occur and endanger especially those population groups that had to be protected during the pandemic.
Why does the existing vaccine need to be adapted?
Actually, the existing vaccines continue to protect, albeit with time. The immune system does not simply forget which "antigen" it has encountered, which substance or pathogen it has mobilized. The most well-known antigen since the pandemic is the "spike" protein, with which the coronavirus gains access to our cells in the upper respiratory tract.
The spike protein is also the crucial component of the existing Covid vaccines. However, with each new virus variant, the spike changes, and this is also reflected in the effectiveness of the vaccine. Therefore, it makes sense to genetically intervene and prepare the immune system as precisely as possible for the currently dominant virus variants. This approach is similar to that for seasonal flu: An adjustment is made each year to make the vaccine as accurate as possible.
Which variant are the new vaccines targeting?
The vaccines now approved for use in practices have been optimized for the JN.1 variant. The Omikron variant, known since November 2021, has generated new subvariants, including ones that replicate particularly well, like JN.1. This will continue to be the case in the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, JN.1 plays only a minor role in our country, and descendants with the designations KP.2 and KP.3, and even their subvariants, dominate infection dynamics. However, this is happening at a relatively low level. According to the latest data, the peak of a smaller "summer wave" has likely been overcome. The vaccines for JN.1 also provide good protection against KP.2, KP.3, and their already active successor variants.
Are the new vaccines as safe and effective as the previous ones?
The safety profiles of the vaccines have not changed compared to last year. The regulatory authorities have been convinced of the additional benefit of the adapted boosters based on data from smaller studies and have issued a recommendation. This was also the case last year when the vaccines for the XBB.1.5 variant were adapted. Ultimately, the new vaccines are the old vaccines, as only the formulation for the spike protein is changed.
It is therefore not necessary to exert the same study effort each year as was done for the initial approval of these vaccines. In any case, continuous monitoring is taking place. This happens at the national level through the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, which is responsible in Germany and carries out inspections and now also gradually releases those adapted batches that are supplied to pharmacies and practices on behalf of the federal government.
This concerns "Comirnaty JN.1" from Biontech/Pfizer in three different dosages: one for adults and children from 12 years, and two weaker ones for children from six months and four years respectively. Parallel to the German monitoring of the vaccines, such monitoring is also taking place at the European level through the EMA (European Medicines Agency).
Who should get vaccinated now?
The recommendations are still the same as last year. Boosters should be received by older people from 60 years, as well as all patients from six months with chronic diseases and weakened immune systems. Medical and nursing staff should also bring their vaccination protection up to date - for their own safety, but also for the safety of others in practices, hospitals or nursing homes.
For everyone else - provided they are healthy and have no close contact with particularly vulnerable persons - the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) considers a basic immunization sufficient. This can, according to STIKO's opinion, also be "hybrid", i.e. consist of a mixture of vaccinations and survived Covid-19 diseases. In total, there should be three contacts with the virus or vaccination only with the spike protein of Sars-CoV-2 to build up sufficient protection. And at least one vaccination should always be included.
How long should I wait for a vaccination after a Covid-19 infection?
If there is no basic immunity yet - which is hardly the case anymore - at least three months should elapse between recovery and vaccination. Otherwise, STIKO recommends a one-year interval for boosters. However, this should be discussed with a doctor and adjusted to the individual health condition. Autumn is certainly suitable for a booster. Although Sars-CoV-2 can cause infection waves at any time of the year, the colder months are riskier because other, more seasonal pathogens also occur more frequently, including influenza viruses. According to STIKO's opinion, there is no objection to being vaccinated against influenza and Covid-19 simultaneously. The reactions may then be a little more intense than with individual vaccinations. However, mild pain or swelling at the injection site, possibly also headache, fever and general feeling of illness are usually overcome within a few days.
Those who would prefer a booster with the protein vaccine from Novavax instead of the mRNA vaccine will have to wait a little longer. The vaccine adapted to XBB.1.5 from last year expires on 1 September. When the new one - Novavax JN.1 - can be delivered is not yet known. However, this alternative vaccine is also expected for autumn.
Given the ongoing presence of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and its variants, it's crucial for eligible individuals to consider receiving a rehabilitation vaccination, especially considering the potential increase in infections during winter months.
As the spike protein, which is the target of the existing vaccines, mutates with each new variant, regular updates to the vaccines are necessary to ensure optimal protection against the current dominant strains. This process is similar to annual adjustments made for seasonal flu vaccines.
