Once again, Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach surprises with one of his statements. He now also recommends the fourth vaccination for everyone under the age of 60. The Stiko, on the other hand, has a different opinion.

Another new vaccination recommendation? Only at the beginning of the week did the EU advocate a second booster for everyone over 60 years of age. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is apparently not enough. In an interview with the “Spiegel”, he now recommended that the younger ones should also get another booster vaccination.

However, this has nothing to do with an official recommendation. Because requesting certain groups to be vaccinated is actually reserved for the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko). And it remains that the second booster is currently worthwhile, especially for risk groups. And so it is not surprising that its chairman opposed Lauterbach only a few hours later in the “Welt am Sonntag”. Thomas Mertens said he did not know any data that would justify such advice – and that he thought it “bad” to make medical recommendations under the motto “A lot helps a lot”.

And Mertens is not alone in his criticism. Epidemiologist Klaus Stöhr also positions himself very clearly against Lauterbach’s vaccination recommendation in an interview with “Welt”: Anyone who now recommends the fourth vaccination for everyone is actually in favor of the fifth time in autumn. Because the immune protection, which was slightly improved by the second booster, even against severe courses, would have fizzled out again in the autumn. In addition, the interval between the fourth and fifth vaccination is very short, which in turn does not trigger the optimal immune reaction. From his point of view, everyone should do what the Stiko recommends. You have all the crucial scientific data available.

The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) has so far only recommended a second booster to humans

Based on the total population, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI; as of July 15), 7.5 percent (6.1 million) have received a second booster vaccination, and among people aged 60 and over it is one in five (5.1 million ).

Many doctors follow the Stiko recommendation. The vaccination decision is always a decision between the family doctor and those affected, said Lauterbach. The Stiko “recommends only in general”.

But Lauterbach’s recommendation causes confusion. Because the mere fact that Lauterbach considers the second booster to be appropriate for younger people does not mean that they will get it. For example, young people who want to be vaccinated are sent away again in vaccination centers if they ask for a fourth dose – because they are too young.

The fourth vaccination does not harm younger people, said immunologist Carten Watzl. They also did not block anything in relation to a possible fifth vaccination, with a vaccine adapted to Omicron. However, he does not see a need for the second booster. For people with a healthy immune system, the protection against serious illness is still very high more than six months after the third vaccination.

If you are still unsure, you can ask your family doctor whether he thinks a fourth vaccination makes sense. Epidemiologist Timo Ulrichs also spoke out in favor of vaccination “at least for those over 60”. “Vaccinate now is better than waiting for the omicron-specific vaccine in the fall. This could then be given as the fifth vaccination,” he explains.

“In view of BA.4/5, a fourth vaccination already makes sense, especially for vulnerable and prioritized occupational groups, or in general if the last vaccination was significantly more than six months ago,” said virologist Friedemann Weber when asked by FOCUS Online . Otherwise it will be important that the vaccination is refreshed at the beginning of autumn. “Ideally, there will then be an adapted vaccine, but the classic vaccine will also help.”

Basically vaccinate

Since December 11, 2021, dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists have also been legally entitled – after appropriate training – to carry out corona vaccinations in people aged twelve and over.

Appropriately trained pharmacists can be found at www.mein-apothekenmanager.de.

If you want to get your second booster vaccination, it is best to contact your family doctor. Because he knows the respective medical history best. In vaccination centers it can happen that people willing to be vaccinated are turned away if they do not belong to one of the groups recommended by Stiko – for example if they are younger than 70 years of age. This is usually decided by the vaccinating doctor on site.