Coronavirus vaccination
The vaccinations against Sars-CoV-2 are the most effective tool to get the pandemic under control. Vaccinated people not only protect themselves from the disease and its severe courses - they also reduce the likelihood of infecting others. Find out here the most important facts about the effectiveness of the various vaccinations and the risks the vaccines pose.
What vaccines are there?
So far, four vaccines against the coronavirus or Covid-19 have been provisionally approved in the European Union (EU) for adolescents aged 12 and over and adults:
- an mRNA vaccine from BioNTech / Pfizer (Comirnaty)
- an mRNA vaccine from Moderna (Spikevax)
- a vector vaccine from AstraZeneca (Vaxzevira)
- a vector vaccine from Johnson & Johnson / Janssen.
These four corona vaccinations are so-called gene-based vaccines. These vaccines smuggle - in different ways - genetic blueprints for certain protein structures of the virus into the body cells. The body cells in turn produce the respective protein themselves. The immune system reacts to this and thus learns to act against the actual virus in the "real case".
There are also numerous vaccine candidates that are still being tested. This means that further corona vaccinations could come onto the market in the future - depending on the results of the clinical studies.
Vaccinations for children and adolescents
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the first Covid-19 vaccinations for children and adolescents aged 12 and over. Since then, Europe's younger population has also been vaccinated one by one.
In Germany, the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) has so far only recommended this for previously ill children or in special risk situations. In Austria and Switzerland, the vaccination is also recommended for all healthy adolescents aged 12 and over.
How safe are the corona vaccinations?
The corona vaccines have been inoculated millions of times around the world without causing serious consequences. In addition, they have been thoroughly tested by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and classified as safe.
Typical vaccine reactions are fever, muscle pain and pain at the injection site. However, undesirable side effects can occasionally occur. Including severe and strong allergic reactions, blood clots (cerebral vein thrombosis) or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). But they are extremely rare.
What should you watch out for after vaccination?
After a completed series of vaccinations, your immune system is as well prepared as possible for the coronavirus. Not only are you protected yourself, the likelihood of infecting others is now significantly reduced. You can prove your vaccination status with your official vaccination certificate or a digital certificate (e.g. Corona warning app).
Occasionally, however, completely vaccinated people become infected again with the virus. Doctors speak of a vaccination breakthrough. Often the vaccinated people do not notice anything, but can pass the virus on.
That is why it makes sense to continue to wear a mask in certain situations and to follow the other hygiene rules. What freedoms you regain as a vaccinated person is currently part of the discussion.
Is a corona booster vaccination necessary?
The experts of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommend a Covid-19 booster vaccination for the following people (groups):
- People who are 70 years or older
- People who live in nursing homes or are at least temporarily cared for there
- Nursing staff and people who come into contact with the risk patients to be cared for
- Personnel in medical facilities who have direct contact with people there
The STIKO advises those concerned to have their immune protection boosted by a further vaccination at the earliest six months after the basic immunization. For this purpose, the doctors plan to use an mRNA vaccine.
It does not matter which vaccine was previously given. However, people who have already received an mRNA vaccine for the first two doses of the primary vaccination will ideally receive the same active ingredient again.
More information about the corona vaccinations
New questions keep coming up on the subject of corona vaccinations. Why is the second dose so important? For whom are the vaccinations particularly important? And what is the status of vaccination requirements?
News about the corona vaccinations
What's new about vaccinating against Sars-CoV-2? You can find our current reporting here.
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School: No quarantine for the whole class Schools should remain largely open in the fall. This should work nationwide with new quarantine rules - which only affect very close contacts. Learn more
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Delta: Most people get infected when they are symptom-free Delta is highly contagious. And the time window in which infected people can infect others before the onset of the disease seems particularly long. What does this mean for the course of the pandemic? Learn more
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Covid-19: Why the STIKO now recommends vaccination from 12 years of age Re-evaluation: The German Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) is now in favor of a corona vaccination from 12 years of age. What are the reasons? Learn more
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Pharmacy vaccination certificates stopped for the time being The issuing of digital vaccination certificates in pharmacies has been stopped for the time being. Read here why the pharmacists' association decided to do so. Learn more
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Vaccination breakthrough: sick despite vaccination As vaccinations progress, the number of fully vaccinated people who get Covid-19 again increases. But that is no reason to doubt the vaccinations. Learn more
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Corona: Why the second vaccination is so important Many people who have been vaccinated for the first time with Corona skip the second vaccination. This means that they are not sufficiently protected against the delta variant in particular. And it is spreading rapidly. Learn more
- Do coronavirus vaccinations affect the cycle?
- Corona vaccination: STIKO recommendation for 452,000 children
- AstraZeneca and BioNTech: a good combination?
- mRNA vaccines: also safe for pregnant women
