Germany: Omicron will spread very quickly, warns Robert Koch’s head

The fifth wave of the pandemic will come and will be the wave of the “Omicron” variant, estimates the president of the “Robert Koch” Institute Lothar Wheeler, emphasizing that the most important way to level the new wave is the immediate reduction of cases, through vaccination and protection measures.

Mr Wheeler also points out that with booster vaccination the protection against infection reaches 75% and underlines that it is clearly better to achieve immunity with the vaccine than with the infection. Regarding the possibility of vaccination, he notes that “the lives and health of millions of people are more valuable than protecting people from an injection.”

“Omicron will spread very quickly, the fifth wave will come. If we manage to significantly reduce the current case level, we have a chance to keep the ‘Omicron wave’ level,” the head of the German Scientific Institute told Der Spiegel. and adds emphatically: “This is achieved by vaccinating, vaccinating, vaccinating, constantly wearing masks, restricting contacts, canceling important events, closing hotspots such as clubs, checking the rules eg in restaurants and increasing protection measures in hospitals.” . “I’m worried that the measures will be relaxed again due to the reduction in numbers and that would be wrong,” said Mr Wheeler.

Regarding the protection provided by the vaccines from “Omicron”, the distinguished scientist explains that the two vaccines do not protect against infection, but “with the booster vaccine the protection against infection is improved by about 75%, which is “, while adding that in the new year we will have a vaccine adapted to the new variant.

To the question “when will we have defeated the pandemic”, Lothar Wheeler refers to the creation of the population’s immunity: “We will have defeated the pandemic when everyone has come in contact with the virus and is immune, either through vaccination or through disease “. Then, he continues, we will move to the endemic state. “The virus will continue to spread, but the progression of the disease and the waves will not be so great. People will still get sick and die, but to a much lesser extent. But again, it’s better to get immunity through vaccination. We forget that there is chronic Covid and some patients are unable to work for months. Even children have problems. The immunity of the population is the target – and for the whole world. only certain risk groups, people with underlying disease, pregnant women “.

Regarding the planned vaccination obligation, Mr. Wheeler points out that the best way is to be convinced of the need to be vaccinated. The obligation, he says, should be the last resort, but of course we should also consider this option “, he emphasizes and admits that he himself hoped that the percentage of vaccinated people would be higher now and that there would not be about 11 today. “The lives and health of millions of people are more valuable than protecting people from an injection,” said Mr Wheeler. “It could be a great moment for the Federal Parliament,” he said.

Asked about the denial of the pandemic or the vaccines, the head of the Robert Koch Institute estimates that the persistent negatives of the coronavirus can not be approached, they are “ideologically finished”. However, it makes the distinction with those who are not sure if they should be vaccinated, because there are some untruths around the subject. “These can be approached,” he explains, adding that his passengers often approach him on the train and ask him questions. In the end they thank him for taking the time to explain. “There is still a lot that can be done,” he said.

Mr Wheeler is still pleased with the choice of Karl Lauterbach, who is also a professor of epidemiology, to take over as health minister. “In recent years, Mr. Lauterbach has always made very specific and well-founded statements about the pandemic. He is clear in his views, one can easily imagine how he intends to fight the crisis,” he said.

Asked how he, as a devout Catholic, combines his Christian faith with science, Lothar Wheeler states: “I do not leave my status at the door of the church. Faith gives me a foundation and trust in God. I have a Christian view of “It’s important that we protect and respect creation. It facilitates my work as a scientist and my effort to prevent illness and death as much as possible.” At Christmas, he will go to church, he is asked, to explain that he will decide at the last minute, depending on the number of cases in his area and the protection measures taken by his parish.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ