Medical professionals advocate for an additional vaccine dose.
Germany Pushes for COVID-19 Booster Shot Guidelines
Amidst growing calls for a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, Karl Lauterbach, the SPD health expert, has emphasised the need for clear guidelines on booster shots. This call comes as many individuals, despite not yet being eligible, are seeking a third dose.
Andreas Gassen, the chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), has stated that the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) has the data to issue a recommendation for a third dose for certain groups. Gassen emphasised that STIKO, an institution where experts on vaccinations sit, would be the right body to provide such guidelines.
Lauterbach suggested that the booster vaccination process should mirror the first wave, with clarity on which age groups and risk factors indicate the need for a third vaccination. He also warned against vaccinating those not yet eligible, as it could potentially push those at the highest risk to the back of the line.
Gassen reinforced the importance of STIKO's evidence-based decision-making, contrasting it with politics, which sometimes lacks rationality. Lauterbach, too, reiterated his belief in STIKO as the appropriate institution for issuing booster shot guidelines.
However, Lauterbach did not specify which groups should wait for a third dose of Covid-19. His call for clarity does not imply a change in his stance on the need for booster shots for certain groups or his belief that politics should make clear statements about which groups are next for booster shots.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) has already issued recommendations for COVID-19 booster shots, recommending boosters for all adults as part of the government's strategy against COVID-19, especially to counter the Omicron variant. These recommendations were part of broader pandemic measures including prioritization and vaccination strategies.
As the pandemic continues, the call for clear guidelines on booster shots remains a crucial step towards ensuring that those most at risk receive the protection they need.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) has already issued recommendations for COVID-19 booster shots, including therapies-and-treatments for mental-health as an essential aspect of health-and-wellness, especially for high-risk individuals.
Karl Lauterbach, the SPD health expert, emphasizes the need for STIKO's guidance on booster shots to mirror the first wave, considering not only age groups but also mental-health factors that may increase the risk of severe illness or complications from COVID-19.
