The Covid-19 vaccines were the decisive means by which Austria came through the pandemic relatively well. In Austria, however, the political enforcement of compulsory vaccination has broken much of China, Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) said on Austria’s Vaccination Day on Saturday.
According to all scientific studies, a minimum of three vaccinations are required for good protection. Viennese vaccinologist Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt subtitled the training for doctors and pharmacists on Saturday with “The good, the bad & the ugly”. Health Minister Johannes Rauch personally attended the opening of the conference.
Long Covid as “The Ugly”
The good, according to the expert: “The pandemic has also given a huge boost to vaccine development for other diseases.” On the other hand, aspects of communication about the Covid 19 vaccination are poor, “which did not always go well.”. In addition, other diseases that could be controlled by immunizations returned due to vaccination gaps. After all, “the ugly” is Long Covid as one of the consequences of the pandemic.
“It was the vaccine that ended up getting us through the pandemic quite well,” said Rauch. The success of science in the rapid development of the Covid-19 vaccine was “great” and the rapid widespread availability of the vaccine in the EU was also a success story. But according to the minister, the subject of mandatory vaccinations in Austria was politically “not really well done”.
Rapid implementation was important
German virologist Ulrike Protzer (TU Munich) emphasized the scientific achievements – especially the mRNA vaccine. The technology had been known for about a decade and rapid implementation of the Covid 19 vaccine and its large-scale production would have been a major advancement. The effectiveness is also better than the vaccines with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 viruses that were developed quickly – for example in China. “We knew that such vaccines against respiratory infections are not effective enough.”
Ulrike Protzer emphasized that the public was often too hopeful: “These are Covid 19 vaccines. They are designed to prevent the disease Covid-19. They are not SARS-CoV2 vaccines.” As with other respiratory infections, for example, infection can only be partially prevented.
‘Vaccination really helped a lot’
The virologist on the effects of the Covid 19 vaccination: “In the US the mortality rate was very high, in Germany we were quite good, in Japan they were much better.” In Germany (Austria comparable; note) around 65 percent were vaccinated three times. The fact that the mortality rate after SARS-CoV-2 infection has fallen from the initial five percent to less than 0.5 percent is largely due to the effect of the vaccine. “The vaccination really helped a lot.”
According to the expert, this also applies to BA.5 and other newer virus variants. “The BA.5 virus is a different virus in terms of immunity. Nevertheless, the effect of the vaccination persists.” A booster with a new vaccine adapted to BA.4/5 results in a 2.7 times lower hospitalization rate for a breakthrough infection.
“This virus is just smart”
Ulrike Protzer: “This virus is simply smart.” Still, the vaccination brought enormous benefits. “We have ended up in a situation where we can live well with the contamination.”
Conclusion:
According to the Munich virologist, three vaccinations against Covid-19 are the minimum to have optimal protection. People at risk should receive at least a fourth vaccination. A SARS-CoV-2 infection without vaccination is of little use. The antibodies of those who have recovered are half weaker than those produced by the body after vaccination.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
