Every now and then an acquaintance is infected with the coronavirus, even though he has been vaccinated. The same is true of many entertainment and sports stars. In Germany, the Robert Koch Epidemiological Institute has recorded 117,763 cases since the beginning of February, in which the virus penetrates the vaccine defenses. Experts consider this number to be rather negligible, considering that more than 55 million Germans have been fully vaccinated. On the other hand, in view of a possible new wave of the pandemic, they propose to give a third, booster dose to wider sections of the population and not only to vulnerable groups.
“We need to be aware that six months after the second dose, the protection provided by the vaccine begins to decline,” says Hendrik Streek, a virologist at the University of Bonn. For researcher Leif Sander, the best protection against the virus is offered when one to two weeks have passed since the second dose, then the protection begins to subside, but again the vaccinated person has a better defense against the virus compared to an unvaccinated person.
“Protection from unpleasant complications”
All this is not surprising. As early as last April, virologist Christian Drosten had pointed out that even vaccinated people could spread the virus further if a few months had passed since the second dose. Even more important than protection against the virus, says Hendrik Streek, is protection against serious complications in the event of infection. Experts estimate that those who are vaccinated will have mild symptoms or will not even realize that they have been infected with the virus.
Particular difficulties arise in the elderly or in those suffering from an underlying disease. Since February, a total of 1,076 cases of people who – although vaccinated – have fallen ill and eventually died of the coronavirus have been recorded. Of these, 782 are over 80 years old. “This picture reflects the higher mortality risk of this age group anyway, regardless of the protection or effectiveness of the vaccine,” said Robert Koch Institute experts, who described the increase in the number of patients as “expected” and among those vaccinated.
Third installment for everyone?
Since the beginning of October, the Standing Scientific Committee on Vaccines has expanded the list of susceptible or other groups for which a third, booster dose of the vaccine is proposed. These groups now include the elderly over 70, those with weakened immune systems, those living in nursing homes and medical staff who have direct contact with the patient. In addition, a third dose with state-of-the-art mRNA technology is recommended for those who have had the Johnson & Johnson monosodium vaccine.
“If the third dose was given to anyone wishing to be vaccinated six months after the second dose, the spread of the virus to the general population would be reduced,” said Leif Sander of the Charité Clinic in Berlin. However, citing the Israeli experience, he said that “in the first phase, a large information campaign lasting six to eight weeks is needed again, with vaccination centers and mobile vaccination teams.” Opponents of the “third dose”, which includes virologist Streek, point out that there is a relative shortage of vaccines, especially outside Europe. As for the health system, it is judged that it can be better decongested if the first doses are given to those over 60 who had missed the vaccination so far, than if the already vaccinated ones go to the third dose.
But what about the risk of transmitting the virus to someone who is sick? Virologist Hendrik Streek says that “according to a study, when a vaccinated person becomes ill, he will have for a few days the same, heavy viral load as an unvaccinated person, but it decreases very quickly. This means that for a vaccinated person the time period in which he can further transmit the virus is much shorter “.
DW – Gizela Gross / Giannis Papadimitriou
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