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Berlin / Brussels (dpa) - Despite the decision of the EU medicines authority EMA to use Astrazeneca without restrictions, the corona vaccine is only vaccinated for older citizens in some countries - including in Germany.
What the EMA did can be justified with certainty, said infection immunologist Christian Bogdan in an online discussion at the Science Media Center yesterday evening.
"But what the Stiko did can certainly be justified in the same way," said Bogdan, who is a member of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko).
The Stiko had last recommended the Astrazeneca vaccine only from the age of 60.
One of the reasons was the occurrence of cerebral vein thrombosis in 1 to 2 out of 100,000 vaccinated younger women in Germany.
There were also few cases in men in Germany - however, 2.5 times more women nationwide have been vaccinated with Astrazeneca for the first time.
Bogdan said the EMA decision is sure to be an issue at one of the next Stiko meetings.
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EU Health Commissioner Stelle Kyriakides called on the EU states to take a coordinated approach at a video conference of national health ministers on Wednesday evening in order to increase public confidence.
"Our decisions should now be based on the EMA's scientific work, and a thorough, ongoing assessment of the risks and benefits."
The Portuguese presidency of the EU states also called on the member states to adopt a position that was as coordinated as possible.
Portugal's Health Minister Marta Temido said: “This is a technical decision.
It's not a political decision. "
It should not be forgotten that individual decisions affect everyone.
In the first countries, after the EMA announcement yesterday afternoon, decisions have already been taken on the further use of the Astrazeneca preparation.
Italy changed its guidelines - as in Germany, Astrazeneca is now only recommended for people over 60.
This was announced by the President of the Supreme Health Institute (CTS), Franco Locatelli.
In Austria, the national vaccination committee spoke out in favor of following the EMA recommendation.
Meanwhile, the virologist Hendrik Streeck was surprised at Stiko's recommendation to offer people in Germany a second vaccination with Biontech or Moderna after vaccination with Astrazeneca.
“The clinical studies have not yet started.
I think it is necessary to stick to the rules and wait to see whether the studies are successful, ”he told the“ Fuldaer Zeitung ”(Thursday).
But he thinks it is a "understandable" decision not to vaccinate Astrazeneca in people under 60 years of age - even if the vaccine itself is good and safe.
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The Stiko had recommended that people under the age of 60 who had already received a first corona vaccination with the Astrazeneca preparation should switch to a different agent for the second vaccination.
Experts suggest that the very low risk of cerebral vein thrombosis affects younger people.
The Stiko advised giving an mRNA vaccine as a second dose.
The mRNA vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna are approved in Germany.
Already yesterday, Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) wanted to advise his country colleagues about the second vaccinations for young people who were vaccinated with the active ingredient from Astrazeneca.
Nothing was known about a result at first.
The chairman of the Stiko, Thomas Mertens, told the "Rheinische Post" (Thursday) about the recommendation for a second vaccination: "The protection against Covid-19 decreases after a certain time with a single Astrazeneca vaccination."
Mertens said that a second vaccination with another vaccine could even lead to a better protective effect.
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The EU Medicines Agency EMA yesterday unreservedly recommended the use of Astrazeneca.
The benefits should be rated higher than the risks, explained the EMA in Amsterdam.
The British Vaccination Commission, however, changed its recommendation: In the future, the preparation should only be given to people over 30 if possible.
Stiko boss Mertens also told the “Augsburger Allgemeine” that the Stiko and the Robert Koch Institute wanted to examine proposals to extend the distance to the second vaccination for Biontech and Moderna funds for a larger number of first vaccinations.
"Stiko and RKI are also working intensively on this question and want to come to a scientifically justifiable statement."
The virologist Klaus Überla, who also belongs to the Stiko, was skeptical, however.
"In my opinion, indications of a decline in effectiveness beginning six weeks after a Biontech mRNA immunization speak against this proposal," he told the "Augsburger Allgemeine".
The Stiko recently recommended an interval of six weeks at Biontech and Moderna for the second vaccination.
The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach and other scientists had called for a change of course on Easter weekend towards as many short-term first vaccinations as possible.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210408-99-121667 / 2