App Update from 2.9.2021 Share Post

Children and adolescents

The STIKO now also recommends vaccination for all children and adolescents over the age of 12. However, only the two mRNA vaccines - Comirnaty from BioNTech/Pfizer and Spikevax from Moderna - are currently suitable for this use. Prioritization for specific age and population groups has been removed.

Myocarditis and pericarditis

Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been observed following administration of the mRNA vaccines Comirnaty from BioNTech/Pfizer and Spikevax from Moderna since vaccination campaigns began. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), these cases mainly occurred within 14 days of vaccination. This happened more often after the second vaccination than after the first. Younger men in particular were affected.

Contraindications: AstraZeneca and J&J

People who have experienced blood clots with a reduction in platelet count (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) following vaccination with AstraZeneca’s vector vaccine Vaxzevria should not be vaccinated again with Vaxzevria. Generally, individuals who have ever had capillary leak syndrome should not be vaccinated with either Vaxzevria or COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen from Johnson & Johnson.

Heterologous vaccination

The STIKO currently recommends that people who received the vector vaccine Vaxzevria from AstraZeneca for their first vaccination should receive an mRNA vaccine for their second vaccination. The reason for heterologous vaccination is that, according to recent studies, the immune response is better than after two vaccinations with the vector vaccine.

Vaccination intervals

The recommended intervals between the first and second vaccination have changed for both BioNTech/Pfizer’s Comirnaty and Moderna’s Spikevax, as well as for AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria.