To protect against the complications of coronavirus infection, experts recommend vaccination against pneumococci.
© iStock.com/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
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Mon. March 16, 2020
So far there is no vaccine against the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In view of the rapid spread of the virus, Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn recommended that anyone over the age of 60 be vaccinated against other pathogens that attack the lungs: pneumococci. Many citizens followed this advice, but this now leads to the vaccine becoming scarce in Germany.
Intensive research is being carried out worldwide on a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Experts do not expect this to occur before summer 2021. For this reason, physicians are advising high-risk groups such as the elderly and chronically ill people to be vaccinated against pneumocci, especially since these pathogens attack the lungs.
What is the reason?
The virologist Professor Dr. Christian Drosten from the Charité in Berlin explained the background in a podcast on “NDR Info”. The flu is known to trigger the influenza viruses that disrupt the immune cells of the lungs, increasing the risk of subsequent bacterial pneumonia. Often these are bacteria, usually pneumococci, which are present in the throat anyway and could gain the upper hand due to the immune disorder. This classic pneumonia “kills most in the influenza infection,” said Drosten. SARS-CoV-2 is not an influenza virus, but it also affects the lungs. Therefore, it is a logical consideration, according to the virologist, to protect himself against a possible subsequent pneumonia by pneumococcal vaccination. According to previous data, this occurs less frequently with SARS-CoV-2 infections than with the flu. “But it is still not harmful to do this vaccination if you want to protect yourself against eventualities,” emphasized Drosten.
The Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) recommends pneumococcal vaccination to all people over the age of 60 and the chronically ill. However, there is currently a shortage of vaccines: The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) points out on its website delivery bottlenecks for the two vaccines Pneumovax 23 and Prevenar 13, which are expected to continue until mid-April or early May 2020.
Does the flu shot still make sense?
Seasonal flu shots are also still useful for high-risk groups, although the flu wave is about to expire and it usually takes two weeks to build up immune protection. But especially with an additional flu shot in the fall, Drosten said he was particularly well protected for the coming flu season, in which the pandemic virus would still be circulating. The flu shot is recommended for certain risk groups. In addition to the elderly and the chronically ill, these are also pregnant women and medical staff.
PZ / ch / NK
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