Corona: Start of a new vaccine in the federal states – it differs from the previous ones

The first federal states are using the fifth corona vaccine. It differs in comparison to the previously administered funds. The news ticker for the corona pandemic in Germany.

Update February 26, 7:53 p.m .: The first doses of Novavax’s new corona vaccine have been administered in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Saarland. In the vaccination center in Saarbrücken, 70 appointments were made for the first day, as Daniel Schappert from the Saarbrücken regional association said. According to him, 50 vaccinations were given by the afternoon. Four vaccination centers in Saarland took part in the vaccination on Saturday, and there were an estimated 250 appointments for initial vaccinations.

Corona vaccination: Campaign started with fifth Covid vaccine

In Hamburg, the health authority announced that Novavax would be injected immediately when vaccinations were offered in the city – by appointment online or as part of open vaccination campaigns. Initially, around 33,000 vaccine doses would be available. In Schleswig-Holstein, vaccinations without prior registration were also possible in the vaccination centers in Kiel, Lübeck, Neumünster, Itzehoe and Prisdorf, according to the Ministry of Health. In Prisdof, however, the demand for the Novavax product was very manageable, according to a dpa photographer.

The state health ministers had spoken out in favor of initially offering the vaccine primarily to unvaccinated health care workers. In the industry, facility-related vaccination will take effect from March 15th. The red-green-yellow federal government hopes that the vaccine from the US manufacturer Novavax* will give impetus to the vaccination campaign in Germany. The agent was approved as the fifth corona vaccine in the EU – from the age of 18. It is a protein vaccine – it is based on a different technology than the mRNA corona preparations that have mostly been used up to now.

Corona: Far more than 2200 patients with infection in intensive care

Update February 26, 1:04 p.m .: The omicron wave is apparently subsiding in Germany. There are large differences in the 7-day incidence in the federal states. Saxony-Anhalt has the highest value with 1,788.7, followed by Bavaria (1,708.2) and Baden-Württemberg (1,444.2). In Hamburg, the 7-day incidence is lowest at 583.9.

Update February 26, 10:47 a.m .: There are 2,228 Covid 19 patients in the intensive care units in Germany. Of these, 1,025 must be artificially ventilated. This emerges from the data of the DIVI intensive care register on Saturday. The number of intensive care patients has been at this level since the end of January. The age group of those over 60 makes up the largest proportion. As can be seen from the DIVI data, however, the number of patients over 80 years of age has increased significantly since the beginning of February (19.7 percent).

Corona: Nationwide incidence continues to fall slightly

Update February 26, 8:11 a.m .: The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported a 7-day incidence of 1253.3 on Saturday morning (previous day: 1259.5, previous week: 1350.4). In the past 24 hours, 175,833 new corona infections have been registered (previous week: 189,105). In addition, 250 deaths were recorded. This emerges from the data of the Covid-19 dashboard.

According to experts, the number of unreported cases of new infections is high. Many cases are not recorded at all. In addition, according to the ALM laboratory association, there is now a larger number of people whose infection is no longer confirmed by a PCR test – these infections are therefore not included in the official statistics.

Novavax vaccine is offered in first vaccination centers

Update February 26, 8 a.m.: In at least three federal states, people can be immunized with the new Corona vaccine from Novavax * from Saturday: in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Saarland. The drug is to be offered in vaccination centers, primarily for health care workers. In the industry, facility-related vaccination will take effect from March 15th.

Corona: Novavax start is imminent – RKI again reports more than 200,000 new infections

Update February 25, 5:27 p.m .: At its meeting on Tuesday (March 1, 2022), the Berlin Senate wants to decide on the abolition of the fixed upper limit for large indoor events. In the future, 60 percent of the capacities should in principle be exhausted, without the limit of a maximum of 6,000 people decided by the federal and state governments, as announced by the health administration. The rbb had previously reported about it. The federal and state governments had actually agreed on February 16 that the limit of 6,000 people should not be exceeded at a maximum capacity of 60 percent. The rule would go into effect on March 4.

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BKK board turns to StiKo due to many doctor visits about side effects of corona vaccination

Update February 25, 4:54 p.m .: According to BKK board member Andreas Schöfbeck, side effects of the corona vaccination were ten times more common than previously reported by the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI). In his calculation, he relied on the data of ten million health insurers in Germany. In the period from January to September 2021 alone, more than 216,000 cases were treated for those insured with the BKK. The later vaccination and booster campaigns are not even taken into account. Extrapolated to all those vaccinated in Germany so far, this means that 2.5 to 3 million people had to see a doctor because of side effects of vaccination. Schöfbeck therefore wrote an urgent letter to the Standing Vaccination Commission and the German Medical Association. In it he speaks of a “significant alarm signal” that “must be taken into account when the vaccines are used further”.

Update from February 25, 3:30 p.m .: Bavaria and Austria want to work more closely together in the fight against long-term consequences of corona disease. This was agreed by Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) and his Austrian counterpart Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) on Friday in Vienna. “I am convinced that we can learn a lot from each other. We not only rely on interdisciplinary, but also on international cooperation. The aim is for people to find good therapy – whether in Bavaria or Austria,” said Holetschek.

Corona in Germany: vaccination start with Novavax

Update from February 25, 2:30 p.m .: The start of the vaccine from the manufacturer Novavax was long expected, now the vaccination start with the preparation in Germany is imminent. In several countries such as Hamburg or Saarland, vaccinations are possible from this Saturday, sometimes without an appointment, as the health authorities of both countries announced on Friday. In most other countries, Novavax vaccinations are due to start next week.

The first deliveries of the preparation arrived on Thursday at the Bundeswehr in Quakenbrück, Lower Saxony, and delivery to the federal states began on Friday. The remedy is to be offered primarily to employees in the healthcare sector. There are hopes it could be an alternative for those skeptical of Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines. The Novavax vaccine is based on a more classic process. A doctor had explained the difference to the previously used vaccines this week.

The drug, called Nuvaxovid, is said to be approved for people over the age of 18. The Standing Vaccination Commission recommends two vaccinations at least three weeks apart, it said. The preparation is suitable for basic immunization, but has not yet been approved for booster vaccinations.

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, Germany should receive around four million doses of Novavax in the first quarter. Up to 30 million more doses are to follow from April to June.

Update from February 25, 2 p.m.: A good three weeks before the end of most corona protection requirements, Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) warned against being too carefree. “We must not believe that the pandemic is over,” he said in Berlin on Friday. Germany is by no means facing a “Freedom Day” because this term pretends “a security that we do not have”. Lauterbach spoke out in favor of enabling effective protective measures even after the current rules expire on March 20. All details on the Corona PK can be found here.

Corona in Germany: RKI reports current figures

Update from February 25, 10 a.m.: The nationwide seven-day incidence has fallen again. The Robert Koch Institute gave the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week on Friday morning as 1259.5. For comparison: the day before the value was 1265.0. A week ago, the nationwide incidence was 1371.7 (previous month: 894.3). The health authorities in Germany reported 210,743 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. A week ago there were 220,048 infections.

Experts assume a high number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data. One reason is the limited capacity of health authorities, for example, and contacts are often only tracked to a limited extent. In addition, according to the ALM laboratory association, there is now a larger number of people whose infection is no longer confirmed by a PCR test – these infections are therefore not included in the official statistics.

According to the new information, 226 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 264 deaths. The number of corona-infected patients who came to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was 6.27 according to the RKI on Thursday (Wednesday with 6.34). Among them are many people with a positive corona test who have another main illness.

Corona in Germany: RKI publishes weekly report

Update from February 24, 7 p.m.: The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) publishes its weekly report on the current corona situation in the evening. Despite the continued high number of infections, the scientists write: “The apex of the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have been passed.” Overall, ten percent fewer corona cases were transmitted to the institute nationwide than in the previous week. Only in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia does the RKI continue to record increasing numbers of cases.

The RKI experts are concerned about the rising seven-day incidence of people aged 70 and older and in old people’s and nursing homes and medical treatment facilities. The utilization of bed capacity in the intensive care units, on the other hand, remained almost unchanged at 2,398 people with COVID-19 diagnosis.

The proportion of the omicron subtype BA.2 in infections increases to 24 percent, subtype BA.1 continues to dominate the infection process with 75 percent. In people with high immunity, i.e. vaccination or who have already had an illness, there are no differences in the severity of the illnesses between the two types. But the report also says: “Due to the easier transferability of the omicron subline BA.2, a significantly slower decrease or renewed increase in the number of cases cannot be ruled out.”

Corona vaccination: First Novavax delivery arrived in Germany

Update from February 24, 5:26 p.m .: The nationwide start of vaccinations with the corona vaccine Nuvaxovid from the US manufacturer Novavax is getting closer. The first delivery with 1.4 million cans announced today arrived at the Bundeswehr in Quakenbrück, Lower Saxony. According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccine should be delivered to the countries tomorrow or picked up by them themselves. Initially, the vaccine should only go to the countries, not to doctor’s offices.

The Novavax agent should also initially be reserved for healthcare workers, as vaccination will be compulsory in these areas from mid-March. Because of the classic technology on which Nuvaxovid is based, there is hope to reach those who have previously been skeptical about mRNA vaccines. In some federal states it has already been possible to reserve appointments for vaccination with Nuvaxovid.

Corona vaccination: Authority recommends boosters for children over the age of twelve

Update from February 24, 5:05 p.m .: The EU Medicines Agency (EMA) now recommends the corona booster vaccination for children over the age of twelve. The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) in Germany had already issued this recommendation in mid-January, due to the sharp increase in new corona infections at the time. The EMA has now confirmed this recommendation: a booster vaccination with the vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer is also “appropriate” for children aged twelve and over.

There should be a gap of at least three months between previous vaccinations.

Corona loosening in Denmark and Great Britain

Update from February 24, 4:10 p.m .: Denmark and Great Britain lift almost all corona measures. Minister of Health Lauterbach does not allow any comparison with Germany.

Update from February 24, 3:25 p.m .: The corona incidence is falling. Omicron variants often lead to milder infections. But every week hundreds die of Corona. Intensive care physician Uwe Janssens speaks of an unclear situation.

Corona protests: penal orders for wearing a Jewish star with the inscription “Unvaccinated”.

Update from February 24, 1 p.m .: The police now intervene in many places when participants in corona protests wear the so-called Jewish star with the inscription “Unvaccinated”. This is the result of a survey by the media service Integration in the federal states, the results of which were published in Berlin on Thursday. In addition, when this symbol is shown in almost all federal states, there is at least an initial suspicion of downplaying the Holocaust, the media service found during its research.

In Baden-Württemberg, there are already four penal orders from local courts to publicly wear the “unvaccinated” star and to spread the phrase “vaccination sets you free”. The National Socialists once affixed the cynical slogan “Arbeit macht frei” to the gates of several concentration camps. According to the information, more than a dozen investigations are already underway nationwide because opponents of the corona measures have used symbols on the Internet or at rallies that come from the time of the persecution of Jews by the National Socialists.

Five procedures are currently pending in Brandenburg alone, and three in Hamburg. According to the information, three investigations into “unvaccinated” stars were initiated in Saxony between June and December 2021. Court judgments have already been issued in some cases.

Update from February 24, 2022, 12.40 p.m .: The corona vaccinations in Germany continue to make progress, especially with booster vaccinations. A total of 148,000 vaccinations were carried out on Wednesday, 104,000 of them as “boosters”, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Health on Thursday. At least 62.6 million people or 75.3 percent of all residents now have basic protection with the second syringe that is usually necessary for this. At least 47.1 million vaccinates, or 56.6 percent of the population, received an additional booster shot.

Corona: Omicron subtype continues to spread – Stiko chairman with troubling concern

Berlin – The corona situation in Germany has been easing noticeably for a few days, with the Robert Koch Institute reporting a falling seven-day incidence more and more often. But the RKI still reports more than 200,000 new infections every day. A total of more than 14 million infections have now been registered in Germany, but the number of unreported cases is likely to be many times higher.

Corona: More than 14 million infections registered in Germany

As the Robert Koch Institute reported on Thursday morning, the health authorities in Germany reported a total of 14,188,269 infections as part of the corona pandemic. The actual number of infections is likely to be significantly higher, as many go undetected. Because some people became infected several times, it is not possible to determine from this number how many people were proven to already have the virus.

Also on Thursday, the RKI reports a nationwide falling seven-day incidence. The RKI gave the value of new infections* per 100,000 inhabitants and week as 1265.0. For comparison: the day before the value was 1306.8. A week ago, the nationwide incidence was 1385.1 (previous month: 840.3). The health authorities in Germany reported 216,322 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. A week ago there were 235,626 infections.

Corona: RKI assumes that the number of unreported cases is high

Experts assume a high number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data. One reason is the limited capacity of health authorities, for example, and contacts are often only tracked to a limited extent. In addition, according to the ALM laboratory association, there is now a larger number of people whose infection is no longer confirmed by a PCR test – these infections are therefore not included in the official statistics.

According to the new information, 243 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 261 deaths. The number of corona-infected patients who came to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was 6.34 (Tuesday 6.21) according to the RKI. Among them are many people with a positive corona test who have another main illness.

Stiko boss Mertens: omicron subtype BA.2 “could be worrying”

The corona mutation omicron is responsible for the high corona numbers. In most cases, however, the mutant should not cause more severe courses. For some time now, however, the subtype BA.2 has given many experts headaches. The omicron subtype BA.2 of the coronavirus could also “become worrying”, according to the chairman of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko). “We don’t know yet if and how much,” Thomas Mertens told the Schwäbische Zeitung . According to data from laboratories and infection monitoring, however, BA.2 is transmitted more easily. In addition, experiments with infected animals indicated that antibodies against the sub-variant BA.1, which is mainly widespread in this country, “neutralize the sub-type BA.2 less well”.

There is still no clear clinical data on the question of whether subtype BA.2 causes people to become more ill than BA.1, said Mertens. “In the worst case” it could be “that BA.2 leads to a renewed increase, an extension of the current wave of infections and more diseases again”.