It is news from America about the long-term effects of the corona vaccines that gives hope.
And they could have an impact on the vaccination debate and the future strategy for breaking the expected next wave with a new virus variant in autumn: If three or even just two vaccinations were sufficient, as American studies now suggest, possibly for many months or even To be protected from death or serious illness for years, booster vaccinations would not be necessary for everyone at short intervals.
As already recommended by the STIKO, only people over 70, medical staff and people with previous illnesses should then receive a fourth booster vaccination.
And the studies also suggest that the vaccines from Biontec and Moderna also protect against new variants because they produce a large number of different antibodies.
In order to protect the particularly vulnerable group of more than two million unvaccinated people over 65 and to prevent the healthcare system from being overloaded, compulsory vaccination for older people could be sufficient.
The Minister of Health may already see it that way.
Even if Lauterbach is still in favor of general vaccination from the age of 18, he believes that a compromise proposal is possible.
The group application submitted by FDP MP Ullmann would be an option for this – with compulsory vaccination from the age of 50.