Stiko recommends a second corona booster vaccination from the age of 60

The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) now officially recommends a second corona booster vaccination for people aged 60 and over. People in this age group and over the age of five with an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses as a result of an underlying disease should receive another booster, according to a statement from the committee on Thursday updating the vaccination recommendation. The Stiko is expanding its previous recommendation “with the primary goal of protecting particularly vulnerable people even better from serious Covid 19 diseases and Covid 19-related deaths”.

Another booster, preferably with an mRNA vaccine, after “three immunological events” is advisable – for example after primary immunization and the first booster vaccination or primary immunization and Sars-CoV-2 infection. The condition for the booster vaccination from the age of 60 is usually that the first booster vaccination or the last corona infection was at least six months ago. According to Stiko, the interval can only be reduced to four months in justified individual cases.

So far, Stiko had only recommended the second booster to people over the age of 70, people in care facilities, people with an immune deficiency and an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses from the age of five and employees in medical facilities and care facilities. On Monday, the "Bild" had already reported that the recommendation for the second booster for people over 60 should be expanded.

In the updated Stiko recommendation, the committee also advocates the use of the protein vaccine from Novavax for primary immunization for young people from the age of twelve - previously it was only recommended from the age of 18. Two doses should be given at least three weeks apart. In addition to vaccination, Stiko now recommends the antibody preparation Evusheld as a preventive measure to special groups aged twelve and over. It consists of two Sars-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.