The coronavirus vaccine
Everything you need to know, from vaccine development to clinical use.
Vaccinations statistics for Germany
Select a state from the dropdown menu to see how many people have received their first coronavirus vaccine.
Vaccination rates in Europe
Find out how many people have been vaccinated against coronavirus in European countries.
Status:
Data source: interaktiv.morgenpost.de.
When can I get the coronavirus vaccine?
Germany has been administering the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine since its approval on December 27, 2020. Since then, several other vaccines have been and are being approved. After initially prioritizing vaccination by risk groups, Germany has now offered every adult the opportunity to get vaccinated.
STIKO now recommends that all adults get a booster shot 3 months after the second vaccination. Risk groups should continue to be given priority. Children are also increasingly being included in the STIKO's vaccination recommendations.Â
Furthermore, the EU Commission declared at the end of December 2021 that vaccination certificates will only be valid in the EU for nine months if not followed by a booster shot. This regulation will come into force on February 1, 2022 if not vetoed by any of the EU member states.
It remains important to follow all recommendations from local authorities on hygiene measures and social distancing.
Important vaccine news and studies
It is true that the Coronavirus vaccines have now been in use for many months. Nevertheless, new scientific studies emerge on a regular basis which are groundbreaking for the assessment and evaluation of the various vaccines. This is because new virus variants in particular can continuously change the facts.Â
Here you will find an overview of the most important study results:
Study: Vaccine and course of disease
Because no COVID-19 vaccine is 100 percent effective, isolated infections may occur in fully vaccinated individuals. However, these so-called "breakthrough infections" are usually accompanied by milder symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Study: How contagious are vaccinated Persons?
Vaccinated people have a lower risk of contracting COVID-19 than unvaccinated people. However, when vaccinated people become infected, they are similarly contagious as unvaccinated people are to other people. The viral load in the throat is then also comparable.
Study: Does the vaccine protect against the Delta variant?
In preventing symptomatic infections, the efficacy of the Coronavirus vaccine is lower for the delta variant than for previous virus types. However, studies show that the vaccine's efficacy against severe courses of disease, hospitalizations, and deaths remains very high.
Study: Vaccine risks and side effects
Harmless, short-lasting vaccination reactions such as shoulder pain or fever are common with all of the various Coronavirus vaccines. In contrast, the risk of serious side effects such as myocarditis or thrombosis is rare and is continuously monitored by the Paul Ehrlich Institute.
Study 1 and PEI-Bericht
Study: Effectiveness of BioNTech
With regard to "symptomatic cases", the efficacy of a completed vaccination series with BioNTech is 88.0 % in the case of the delta variant. With regard to "hospitalizations", the figure is as high as 96 %.
Study: Effectiveness of Moderna
The efficacy of a completed vaccination series with Moderna is 73.1 % in relation to the risk of infection with the delta variant. With regard to severe or even fatal courses, the efficacy is 96.1 %.Â
The following figure shows the current status of coronavirus vaccine development:
Vaccine development
Vaccine development follows a standard set of steps: In the first step, which takes place in the laboratory, researchers identify which structures on the pathogen (disease-causing microorganism) can elicit a sufficient response in the human immune system. Since a vaccine is a highly modified form of the pathogen, there is no risk of infection.
As with all medicines, we need to ensure that vaccines are safe and effective. During the clinical phases, the vaccine is tested on increasingly large groups of people in clinical trials. Only a fraction of vaccines are approved following careful testing in these trials.
Due to the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, some researchers are accelerating the vaccine development process by combining Phase 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 clinical trials. Fast-tracking approval is also possible in emergency situations.
Vaccine development process
Current status of coronavirus vaccines
The process of vaccine approval varies between countries. There are already several vaccines that have been approved in certain countries but not in others. Also, a large number of additional vaccines are still under development and testing. Thus, the number of approved vaccines may continue to increase in the future. You can find a detailed overview of the different vaccines and their current status in the table below.
Different approaches are used in vaccine development: Some rely on tried and trusted concepts while others involve testing completely new methods. No matter which approach is taken, all vaccines have to go through the same approval steps and their safety and efficacy must be proven in clinical trials. In the end, the main differences between different vaccine types are the different methods that they use to stimulate the human immune system.
Traditional vaccines work by delivering viral components (antigens) to antibodies and immune cells in the body. Newer vaccines, on the other hand, train the immune system by delivering the instructions or âblueprintâ for producing the viral antigens instead. It is conceivable that several different vaccines and vaccine types will be available at the same time.
In the meantime, Nuvaxovid, another coronavirus vaccine that has proven to be effective against severe courses of disease has been recommended by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This is only the fifth coronavirus vaccine approved in the EU, but it is fundamentally different from the previous ones. Generally speaking, all of the currently used coronavirus vaccines used in Europe are inactivated vaccines, meaning they do not contain any replicating coronavirus. However, Nuvaxovid, the vaccine from the U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer Novovax is a protein vaccine that contains components of the so-called spike protein. This means that Nuvaxovid could be an alternative, especially for people who are still uncertain and have reservations about the new mRNA vaccines.
The following figure shows the number and type of vaccines that are currently in each phase of development and testing (State 25.10.2021, Source):
Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | approved* | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Inactivated virus | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
Live attenuated virus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Virus-like particle | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Protein subunit | 7 | 12 | 16 | 7 |
Replicating viral vector | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Non-replicating viral vector | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
RNA | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
DNA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Other | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Inactivated virus
These vaccines consist of viruses that are grown in culture and then killed. When the vaccine is administered, the inactivated virus triggers an immune response without causing infection.
Live attenuated virus
These vaccines consist of viruses that are grown in culture and then modified to reduce their virulence. Live vaccines elicit a stronger immune response.
Virus-like particle
These vaccines contain artificial viral envelopes that closely resemble the coronavirus but do not carry any viral genetic material.
Protein subunit
Rather than administering whole viruses, an artificially produced virus fragment is used to trigger an immune response.
Replicating viral vector
The genetic material of the coronavirus is inserted into a different virus (viral vector) that can replicate in humans but does not cause illness. Replication of the viral vector in the cells produces copies of the coronavirus antigen, which trigger an immune response.
Non-replicating viral vector
The genetic material of the coronavirus is inserted into a different, non-replicating virus. The viral vector delivers the genetic information to the cells, where the coronavirus antigen is produced. The antigen then triggers an immune response.
RNA
An RNA sequence that encodes parts of the virus is delivered to the bodyâs cells. In the cells, the RNA is translated to produce these viral components. The viral components (antigens) are then presented to the immune system to elicit an immune response.
DNA
A DNA sequence that contains the blueprint for parts of the virus is delivered to the bodyâs cells. In the cells, the DNA is translated into the RNA that encodes the viral components. The viral components (antigens) are produced in the cells and then presented to the immune system to elicit an immune response.
Other
These consist of a heterogeneous group of experimental approaches, including influenza/coronavirus hybrids, blueprints for targeted antibodies, and passive vaccines.
Phase 2
Aivita Biomedical Inc
Akston Biosciences/University Medical Center Groningen
Arcturus/Duke-NUS
Bio Farma/Baylor College of Medicine
BIOCAD
Cellid Co Ltd/IAVI
Center for Genetic Engineering/and Biotechnology (peptide #2)
Chula Vaccine Research Center/University of Pennsylvania
Chumakov Center,/Russian Academy of Sciences
City of Hope
Elixirgen Therapeutics/Fujita Health University
Entos Pharmaceuticals
EuBiologics Co Ltd
GeneOne Life Science
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)/IDT Biologika GmbH/Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Government Pharmaceutical Organization/Mahidol University/Icahn School of Medicine
Guangdong Provincial CDC/Gaozhou CDC
HIPRA Scientific
ImmunityBio Inc/NantKwest Inc
Instituto Butantan/Dynavax/PATH
Instituto Finlay de Vacunas (peptide #1)
IVAC/Dynavax/PATH
Kentucky Bioprocessing Inc
KM Biologics Co Ltd
Organization of Defensive/Innovation and Research
Research Institute for/Biological Safety Problems (subunit)
Sanofi Pasteur/GSK
Scientific and Technological Research Council (VLP)
Shanghai Zerun Biotechnology Co Ltd/Walvax Biotech
Shenzhen Geno-Immune Medical Institute/(modified DC)
Shionogi
SpyBiotech/Accelagen Pty/Serum Institute of India
Takis/Applied DNA Sciences/Evvivax/Rottapharm Biotech
University Hospital TĂŒbingen
University of Hong Kong/Jiangsu Provincial CDC/Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy/Xiamen University
University of Tokyo/Daiichi-Sankyo
Vaccibody
Vaxart
VaxForm/Syneos Health
VBI Vaccines/National Research Council of Canada
Phase 3
Arcturus/Vinbiocare
Bharat Biotech/ICMR/National Institute of Virology
Biological E Ltd
Center for Genetic Engineering/and Biotechnology (peptide #1)
Clover Biopharmaceuticals Inc/GSK/Dynavax
CureVac
Erciyes University (inactivated)
Gamaleya Research Institute
Genexine Consortium
Inovio Pharmaceuticals/International Vaccine Institute
Institute of Medical Biology,/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Instituto Finlay de Vacunas (peptide #2)
Israel Institute for Biological Research/Weizmann Institute of Science
Medicago Inc
Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation/NIAID/Dynavax
Nanogen Biopharmaceutical
National Vaccine and Serum Institute/Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd
Novavax
Osaka University/AnGes/Takara Bio
Razi Vaccine and Serum/Research Institute
ReiThera/Leukocare/Univercells
Research Institute for/Biological Safety Problems (inactivated)
Sanofi Pasteur/GSK
Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd
Shifa Pharmed
Sinocelltech Ltd
SK Biosciences (peptide #1)
Valneva/Dynavax
Vaxine Pty/Medytox/CinnaGen Co
Vaxxinity
Vector Institute (peptide)
Walvax Biotech/PLA Academy of Military Sciences/Suzhou Abogen Biosciences
West China Hospital,/Sichuan University
Wuhan Institute of Biological Products/Sinopharm
Zydus Cadila Healthcare Limited (DNA)
*APPROVED (Vaccines that are restricted or fully approved and are currently available in certain countries)
Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical/Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing Institute of Biological Products/Sinopharm
Bharat Biotech/ICMR/National Institute of Virology
BioNTech/Fosun Pharma/Pfizer
CanSino Biological Inc/Beijing Institute of Biotechnology
Center for Genetic Engineering/and Biotechnology (peptide #1)
Chumakov Center,/Russian Academy of Sciences
Gamaleya Research Institute
Instituto Finlay de Vacunas (peptide #1)
Instituto Finlay de Vacunas (peptide #2)
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies
Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation/NIAID/Dynavax
Moderna/NIAID
Research Institute for/Biological Safety Problems (inactivated)
Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd
Shifa Pharmed
Sinovac
University of Oxford/AstraZeneca
Vaxine Pty/Medytox/CinnaGen Co
Vector Institute (peptide)
Wuhan Institute of Biological Products/Sinopharm
Zydus Cadila Healthcare Limited (DNA)
Will the coronavirus vaccine be mandatory?
In December 2021, an amendment to the Infection Protection Act was officially passed by the German parliament. Accordingly, from mid-March 2022, vaccination will be mandatory in Germany for employees of facilities where people at particular risk from Covid-19 are treated or cared for. This applies, for example, to old people's homes, hospitals, facilities for people with disabilities, day clinics, doctors' offices, emergency services and socio-educational centers. However, there is currently no consensus for making vaccination mandatory for all citizens.
From a vaccine to official recommendations
After a vaccine has completed all test phases and been officially approved, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) in Germany conducts a scientific evaluation of the vaccine at population level and provides recommendations. These recommendations form the basis for the Vaccination Directive (SI-RL) of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), which ensures that vaccinations (with the exception of travel vaccinations) are paid for by health insurance.
Germans divided on mandatory vaccination
The population in Germany has widely differing views on compulsory vaccination. In particular, the opinions of those who have already been vaccinated (tending to be in favor of mandatory vaccination) and those who have not yet been vaccinated (predominantly against) differ. The data were collected at two-week intervals as part of the so-called COSMO study (monitoring of sociologically relevant variables in connection with the occurrence of the coronavirus).
Legal obstacles to mandatory vaccination
Making vaccines mandatory is also subject to legal limitations: Section 20 (6) of the German Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG) stipulates that the Federal Ministry for Health shall be empowered to declare vaccination compulsory only with the consent of the federal states in the German Bundesrat. In addition, mandatory vaccination would only apply to risk groups within the population that could develop a severe form of the disease.
Who should get vaccinated?
Coronavirus vaccines are the safest way to effectively protect yourself and others from a severe course of the disease. All vaccines approved in Germany have previously undergone rigorous testing for safety and efficacy. The Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) therefore recommends that all adults get vaccinated, unless they have preexisting health reasons for not getting vaccinated. Such medical exemptions must be discussed with a physician on an individual basis. Corona vaccines are now approved for all 5- to 17-year-olds, according to the EMA. Further information and updates on the RKI's vaccine recommendations can be found here.
COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women â Yes or No?
The STIKO of the RKI recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for unvaccinated pregnant women beginning in the 2nd trimester as well as for unvaccinated breastfeeding women. The first and second dose should be administered using BioNTech's mRNA vaccine ("Comirnaty"). Breastfeeding women under 30 years of age should also receive the BioNTech vaccine. For older breastfeeding women (30 years and older), Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine ("Spikevax") is also acceptable according to the STIKO.
In addition, the STIKO recommends that pregnant and breastfeeding women receive a booster vaccination, as is the case for all persons over the age of 18. For this, at least 3 months should have passed since the last vaccine dose has been administered. For pregnant women, the recommendation applies beginning in the second trimester.
All recommendations were developed by the STIKO after extensive analysis of all available studies and considering all possible risks. One of the main reasons is that pregnancy is a relevant risk factor for severe COVID-19. More background can be found here.
What are the potential side effects?
The top priority in the whole approval process is making sure these vaccines are safe. Investigating side effects is one of the most important research questions in clinical trials. Different vaccination types might have different side effects. You can find more detailed information here.
Some rare side effects may only become apparent after the vaccine has been approved. For this reason, vaccines are monitored even after approval. As with all medicines, anyone â not just doctors â can report side effects directly to the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute.