The corona situation in Germany is still tense, different rules apply to the vaccinated and unvaccinated. Virologist Hendrik Streeck questions this path.
Kassel – When it comes to corona vaccination, Germany is still divided: while some are already on their fourth dose, a not inconsiderable proportion of the population is still unvaccinated. A special omicron vaccine might even be available this May, which might widen the gap even further.
However, the Bonn virologist Hendrik Streeck is skeptical about a large number of vaccinations against the corona virus: “The vaccination schedule of our vaccines is approved for two vaccinations. The booster definitely helps. However, I am skeptical about very frequent and high-frequency vaccination against the same variant over and over again,” he explains. Corresponding “immunological phenomena” have so far been little researched. It is possible, for example, that the T-cell responses are fatigued or even an “original antigenic sin of the immune system, which – to put it simply – can arise when the immune system forgets how to recognize differences in the virus.” Neither has been proven, but is possible. After the third vaccination, the first booster, there is no danger, according to Streeck.
Corona: Virologist Hendrik Streeck criticizes the importance of the incidence
Instead of attributing an “absolute significance” to the corona situation to the incidences, the focus should be more on the hospitalization rate. “And here it must be ensured that we clearly record here whether someone is being treated for a symptomatic corona infection or is in the hospital for other reasons.” Germany must also focus on measures to combat the pandemic that are scientifically justified. Streeck questions the G rules: “People who have been vaccinated twice transmit the virus like those who have not been vaccinated. That changes a little with the boost, but only for a few months.”
Hendrik Streeck on the Corona situation: “We have to carefully return to normality”
Ultimately, the virologist calls for the distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated people to be abolished in the corona rules. “We have to carefully return to normality. From my point of view, there should no longer be a difference between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, ”he demands of merkur.de*. He does not want to give an exact date for this, but throws Easter into the discussion as a symbolic date – maybe even earlier.
He also advocates a summer and a winter mode of fighting the pandemic: “In summer we could therefore do without measures, in autumn and winter there would have to be measures. I like to compare this to the summer and winter tire mode, where it goes without saying that you have to drive more slowly in winter when there is snow than in summer.”
Although the corona numbers are not currently declining sustainably, the growth in daily new infections is declining. Against this background, caution is still required, dealing with vulnerable groups is particularly important. “But ultimately we will all come into contact with the virus.” (Florian Dörr) *merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubrics: © Oliver Berg/dpa
