The German government is preparing to roll out a version of the Covid-19 vaccine that is adapted to the Omicron strain of the coronavirus, in anticipation of a winter wave of cases, informs MIA.
The latest shot is adapted to the BA.1 variant and Germany will receive about 14 million doses of the vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna in the weeks beginning Sept. 5 and Sept.12, subject to EU approval, according to a letter sent by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach to vaccination campaign staff.
Data shows that the latest shots are not only adapted to the BA.1 strain but are also significantly more effective against the BA.5 strain than first generation vaccines, according to the letter seen by dpa.
The letter says 5 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech’s BA.1 vaccine are expected in each of the first two weeks of September.
A further 1.65 million Moderna doses are due in early September, with 2.38 million more set to follow on September 12, the letter said.
The shots are to be shipped directly to pharmaceutical wholesalers and can then be ordered by health-care providers as of Sept. 5.
“At-risk groups should not wait any longer to be vaccinated, even though another vaccine will likely be available just a few weeks later,” Lauterbach explained in the letter.
Meanwhile US pharmacetical company Pfizer and German partner BioNTech have also announced their Covid-19 vaccine adapted to variants BA.4 and BA.5, and if this too is approved, by late September or early October at the soonest, Germany would soon receive 9.5 million doses, he said.
