More and more people are being vaccinated against the coronavirus. For vaccines that require a first and a second vaccination, there are several weeks between the two dates. But do the vaccination intervals have to be observed for a corona vaccination?
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What is the interval between the first and second vaccination?
The approved vaccination intervals for the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine are three to six weeks and for the Moderna vaccine four to six weeks between the first and second vaccination. The vaccine doses of the vaccine from AstraZeneca may be administered at intervals of four to twelve weeks . So that as many people as possible can be vaccinated against the corona virus, the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) currently recommends an interval of six weeks for the vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna and twelve weeks for AstraZeneca. For the Johnson & Johnson vaccineonly one vaccine dose is vaccinated.
Corona vaccination: Do the vaccination intervals have to be observed?
In order to achieve full protection, it is important to keep the intervals between the first and second corona vaccination. Likewise, a vaccination series that has been started should be completed with the same vaccine – an exception is people under 60 who were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine at the first vaccination. Here the second vaccination should be carried out within nine to twelve weeks with the vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer or Moderna. With the AstraZeneca vaccine, it is possible to shorten the interval to four to twelve weeks in consultation with the doctor. However, research has found that the effectiveness of vaccination is higher at longer intervals.
Delta variant: shortening the vaccination intervals makes sense?
Due to the spread of the Delta variant , Stiko is currently examining the arguments for shortening the vaccination intervals. One argument for this would be that a full corona vaccination protects much better against the delta variant. “Incompletely vaccinated people can spread the virus,” says Lothar Wieler, President of the Robert Koch Institute.
Sources: bundesgesundheitsminister.de , impfen-info.de
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