In the new episode of the NDR Info Podcast Coronavirus Update, virologist Sandra Ciesek speaks out in favor of more solidarity with vaccine distribution around the world. In addition, she presents a study on the vaccine change in the case of a second vaccination.
by Marc-Oliver Rehrmann
The corona pandemic will not end until it is over worldwide. “You can’t end it in one country,” says Ciesek. “Even if many in Germany have the feeling that the pandemic could soon be over for us. That is not the case worldwide.” Politicians in rich countries shouldn’t just look at how they are promoting the vaccination campaign in their city or country. “You also have a responsibility for other countries that cannot produce the vaccine themselves,” says the virologist from Frankfurt am Main.
AUDIO: The new podcast episode: Together against the pandemic (81 min)
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She refers to “terrifying numbers” a recently published report on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO). According to this, almost 150 million people worldwide had been infected with the corona virus by the end of April. Around 3.3 million people in 223 countries have died after infection. And more than 100 million people have slipped into extreme poverty as a result of the pandemic. “The corona pandemic is a pandemic of inequality and injustice,” says Ciesek.
The Indian variant – like the South African, Brazilian and British – is one of the “virus variants of concern” according to the WHO. The definition of the Robert Koch Institute is as follows: These are virus variants that differ significantly from conventional virus variants in terms of their pathogen properties. For example, they are easier to transfer. The English term is called Variants of Concern.
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Coronavirus: Similar pattern for key mutations
India is one of those countries where the pandemic is not yet under control. A virus variant has been spreading there for a few weeks, which is likely to be more transmissible and has now been proven in more than 40 countries, including Germany. With such “Worrying Virus Variants” (English: Variants of Concern) so-called key mutations can be observed at certain points in the genome, i.e. exchanges in the genetic material. “And interestingly, with the Variants of Concern, although they were created on different continents, some of the key mutations are the same,” says Ciesek. There are mutations at certain points on the surface of the virus that are more important than other mutations. “If there are mutations in these areas, it can be a survival benefit for the virus.”
However, good news can be derived from this observation: “There can only be a limited number of worrying variants,” says Ciesek. “I don’t expect hundreds of Variants of Concern to emerge – because only a few key mutations can change the properties of the virus in such a critical way.”
First AstraZeneca, then Biontech: How tolerable is the second vaccination?
Vaccinations are also a topic in the latest podcast episode. In Germany, many people who are under 60 years of age should receive an mRNA vaccine like the one from Biontech / Pfizer at the second appointment after the first vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine. How compatible such a second vaccination is with another vaccine shows a new study from the UK. “The data shows that people overall had more systemic symptoms such as fever than those who received the same vaccine twice,” summarizes Ciesek. “Symptoms were mostly observed 48 hours after vaccination – and they subsided after 48 hours.” The vaccination reactions after a vaccine change are sometimes unpleasant. “But nothing dramatic was observed in the course of the study,” said Ciesek.
AstraZeneca: Longer vaccination interval in Germany
The virologist points out that the findings from Great Britain do not necessarily have to be transferred one-to-one to Germany. Because in Great Britain – where the AstraZeneca remedy is primarily used – the interval between the two vaccination appointments is usually only four weeks. In Germany, on the other hand, the Standing Vaccination Commission recommends an interval of nine to twelve weeks if the first vaccination was with AstraZeneca. “It is quite possible that the symptoms will be less after the second vaccination if the vaccination interval is longer,” says Ciesek.
Biontech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson: Four products against the coronavirus are currently approved in the EU. more
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How good the immune protection turns out when the vaccine is switched from AstraZeneca to Biontech is not yet an issue in the present study from Great Britain. The results of this question are to be published in June. “Just because of the stronger vaccination reaction when changing vaccines, one cannot 100 percent assume that these people also have stronger immune protection,” explains the virologist.
Corona infection: how long to wait with an operation?
Even in times of the corona pandemic, many people in Germany have to undergo – non-urgent – surgery – such as a hernia or knee damage. For those infected with corona, the question arises whether they should postpone an imminent surgery appointment. The surgeons’ associations in Germany have now issued a statement in favor of it. Because there are data available that in the first six weeks after a corona infection there is an increased risk of serious complications after an operation – especially in the area of the lungs. This has been shown by experience from the clinics. Only from the seventh week after the onset of infection – and without persistent symptoms – is the risk comparable to non-infected people again.
The surgeon’s recommendation is therefore: If someone has a corona infection, a planned operation should only take place after seven weeks.
Does a fresh vaccination speak against an operation date?
It looks different if the date for a planned operation is after a corona vaccination. “Operations can also be carried out shortly after the vaccination,” says Ciesek, referring to the surgeon’s recommendations. “But you should wait at least a week so that possible vaccine reactions such as fever do not distort the clinical picture after an operation.” Ideally, patients should be fully vaccinated against Sars-CoV-2 before a planned operation. Accordingly, an ideal surgery date is two weeks after the second vaccination dose.
The virologist Christian Drosten provides expert knowledge in the podcast Coronavirus Update – together with virologist Sandra Ciesek. Here is an overview of all the episodes. more
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It starts today in the district of Northwest Mecklenburg. Shops in Schwerin are allowed to open from tomorrow. More corona news in the ticker. more
