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FResearchers around the world are working on a vaccine against the coronavirus. What possibilities are there in Germany? An overview of the most important questions in vaccine development.
When should the first vaccines be approved in Germany?
Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) waits for a moment in the “first months” of next year. Until “a large part of the population” can be vaccinated, we must wait until mid-2021, Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU) said on Tuesday. The investigation is progressing “incredibly fast”, but the goal is not there yet.
A lot can happen in the next few weeks. It is important that people only have safe and effective vaccines. Germany will not deviate from this line, “we will not take risky shortcuts here.”
What German companies are involved in the development of vaccines?
The Tübingen start-up CureVac as well as the Mainz company Biontech and its partner Pfizer. Both will be financially supported by the federal government. According to the Federal Research Ministry, CureVac will receive 252 million euros and Biontech 375 million euros. Dessau-Roßlau-based IDT Biologika will also receive funding, but negotiations are still ongoing.
The background of the financial support is a special program of the Ministry of Research to which companies could apply until mid-July. There were four stakeholders, said Klaus Cichutek, president of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Medicines.
“Perhaps one or the other was surprised that so few requests were made.” The call for bids was “so clear”, according to Cichutek, that “not many” companies were eligible given the criteria in question.
What is the status of the vaccine development?
CureVac is still in the second phase of development testing, Biontech and its partner Pfizer are already beginning the third final testing phase. Last week it was announced that they can now test their potential drug in Germany and plan to apply for approval next month. If authorities agree, around 100 million doses of vaccine could be produced by the end of this year, according to the company.
This is the current state of vaccine research.
Research for a coronavirus vaccine is in full swing around the world. Individual countries have even approved emergency drugs. But even if a vaccine hits the market, that won’t spell the end of the pandemic.
Source: WELT / Nadine Jantz
In addition, Germany has contractually secured 54 million doses of vaccines from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. “Starting today, we have to assume that two vaccines are needed at any one time,” Spahn said. Therefore, a total of 54 million doses of vaccine could vaccinate 27 million citizens.
Why are there more insured cans than people in Germany?
Because it is not yet clear whether individually funded projects will really be successful. Companies may receive tens of millions of euros from the state for their vaccine development, but fail in the final phase.
If Germany will have more doses than it needs, Spahn already has a plan: “Afterwards, I will gladly give some of the vaccines contractually agreed with us to other countries if it turns out that we have more than we need. “Said the CDU politician. “But first I play it safe.”
What protection will vaccines provide?
It is not yet clear whether vaccines can only prevent severe courses of Covid-19 or new infections. Cichutek from the Paul Ehrlich Institute said: “When it comes to efficacy, we’re talking about vaccines being able to prevent the serious Covid 19 disease. Those are the main goals. We also hope, of course, that they can interrupt the … person-to-person transmission. “
Who should get vaccinated first?
After successful approval, Spahn waits “a few days or at most a few weeks” until the vaccines can actually be started. However, it can be assumed that a sufficient quantity of vaccine will not yet be available for all population groups.
Therefore, health workers should be the first to be vaccinated, as well as people belonging to the risk group, for example, because they have previous diseases or are very old. The Permanent Commission on Vaccination, which is based at the Robert Koch Institute, develops precise guidelines for distributing the doses of the vaccine. These are then used as recommendations to the federal states.
Where and at whose expense are vaccinations carried out?
This is yet to be determined. Spahn put into play the establishment of regional vaccination centers as an alternative to vaccination in medical practices. One reason for this is that some vaccines must be transported and stored at -70 degrees.
Furthermore, Spahn again emphasized that there will be no mandatory vaccination. To achieve herd immunity, 55 to 65 percent of citizens in Germany would have to be vaccinated. “We are very, very confident that we will voluntarily reach the goal of a sufficiently high vaccination rate.”
The flu season is about to begin. Is there enough vaccine for this?
According to Spahn, 26 million cans have been insured for Germany, typically 18 to 19 million. If it were possible for all 26 million doses to be inoculated, it would be a “great success” in this pandemic, said the CDU politician. Because both flu and Covid-19 are respiratory diseases that could affect the same parts of the health system at the same time.
Corona vaccine testing stopped for the time being
The pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca stopped the clinical trial of its corona vaccine as a precautionary measure after one of the participants developed health problems. The vaccine is in the third and final phase of the study.
