Third vaccination now generally possible for all after four months

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The third Corona vaccine dose will now generally be possible for all adults (18 years and older) four months after the second sting. This clarification comes from updated recommendations from the National Immunization Panel (NIG) released Monday. Previously, the NIG provided for this possibility only in “justified exceptional cases” – for example, after two doses of Astra-Zeneca. Refreshing also applies to convalescents.

In the federal capital in Vienna, even before the now latest NIG recommendation was available, nevertheless, the third prick was released for all and also vaccinated. “The 3rd vaccination can be carried out from 4 and should be carried out from 6 months after the 2nd vaccination,” it now says in the application recommendations of the NIG. After two vaccinations with vector vaccines (such as Astra-Zeneca), the third vaccination is not only possible four months after the second vaccination, but is also “recommended.”

The recommendation to use mRNA vaccines for the third vaccination in principle remains the same. Preferably, “the same vaccine should be used as for the previous immunizations.” However, since the beginning of November, Moderna’s vaccine should generally only be used for people 30 years of age and older, this remains the case. The reason is “international safety reports” on an increased incidence of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle, note) and pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium, note) mainly in younger persons. Under-30s should therefore be boosted with BionTech, although Moderna can be used in people under 30 if specifically requested. At the same time, the NIG emphasizes the “excellent efficacy” of Moderna’s vaccine, which has an “unchanged good safety profile” in people 30 and older.

For the Janssen (Johnson&Johnson) vaccine, which was originally intended as a “single-use” vaccine, the recommendation remains to pick up a booster dose after four weeks with an mRNA vaccine. Pfizer/Biontech should preferably be used for this, or Moderna for those over 30 years of age. The third shot should then be given four to six months later. However, if the second injection was made with Janssen, this interval is shortened to four months.

Starting from 3 January with Janssen first once vaccinated must refresh by the way in any case, in order to hold the validity of the “green passport” upright, it was said on Monday from the Ministry of Health to the APA. As after all second and third vaccinations, the Green Passport is then valid for another 360 days.

Also new are the recommendations for vaccination or booster for convalescents. In any case, for the “Green Passport” to be valid, those affected must go for their first vaccination 180 days after recovery. In the recommendations of the NIG, this group of persons now finds concrete guidance on how to proceed after recovery.

After an infection (proven by PCR) without previous vaccination, the first vaccination should be performed approximately four weeks after recovery. The certificate will be valid for 360 days for the green passport, and from December 6, according to the Ministry of Health, only for 270 days. The NIG recommends a second vaccination six months after the first one. Another, third vaccination, is then recommended six to nine months after the second vaccination. If, after recovery, a person has received not one but two vaccinations in close proximity to each other (for example, because they were needed for international travel), it is also recommended that a third dose be given six to nine months after this second vaccination.

For those who become infected between the first and second vaccinations, the NIG recommends that the second vaccination also be given four weeks after recovery. Those who fail to do so are only considered recovered for the purposes of the Green Passport and must receive another vaccination after 180 days in any case in order to continue using the Green Passport. In any case, for this group of people, the NIG recommendation is to then pick up the third dose six to nine months after the second shot.

Double-vaccinated persons who experience a vaccine breakthrough (PCR-confirmed) after the second vaccination should get the third dose after recovery shortly before 180 days have elapsed or before nine months have elapsed after the second vaccination. In this case, the Green Passport will continue to be valid until the third vaccination: either 360 days after the second sting (from December 6 only 270 days) or alternatively 180 days after the breakthrough infection (depending on the timing of the vaccination breakthrough, note).