The claim

A woman, according to various reports on the Internet, is allegedly a pharmacist from Schleswig-Holstein, claims in a selfie video that corona vaccines are ineffective against COVID-19. She bases her statement on a vaccination plan that has the note “not yet known” under “vaccination protection”.

Our conclusion

The claim is false. The effectiveness of the corona vaccines has been confirmed in many studies. The note “not yet known” in the 2021 vaccination plan refers to the interval of booster vaccinations, which was not yet fully understood at the time, and not to the overall effectiveness of the vaccines.

Since corona vaccinations began more than two years ago, there has been repeated skepticism about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations, as a short video from a pharmacist from Schleswig-Holstein shows. It suggests that the corona vaccines would not offer any protection. It is based on a vaccination plan that contains not yet known

Fact check: Corona vaccines have proven effectiveness


The pharmacist's assumption that the corona vaccines are ineffective is not true. A large number of scientific studies have shown that vaccination makes a significant contribution to preventing severe cases of COVID-19. The wording “currently not known” in the vaccination plan shown actually refers to the still unclear interval for booster vaccinations to ensure long-term protection against the virus.

Misunderstanding of an outdated vaccination schedule


The pharmacist relies on a vaccination plan that was created in 2021. At the time the vaccination plan was drawn up in September 2021, there was no final data on the optimal frequency of booster vaccinations. Therefore the note “currently not known” can be found there. This information was misinterpreted and presented misleadingly by the pharmacist.

Note: The German Press Agency (dpa) has the poster of the vaccination plan. This clearly shows that this is the 16th edition as of “September 2021” . This was confirmed on May 24, 2023 by both the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Pharmacists and the Bavarian State Chamber of Pharmacists, who are responsible for creating the poster, at the dpa's request. There have been no further updates to date, so this edition is the latest version!

A few days ago there was also an indication on Twitter, where the video is also making the rounds, that this is the vaccination plan from 2021:

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Screenshot: Twitter

Booster vaccinations: state of knowledge in 2021 compared to 2023


In September 2021, at the time the vaccination plan was drawn up, a booster vaccination after the primary vaccination was only recommended for people with weak immune systems by the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko). At this point in time, this was not yet the case for other population groups. The vaccination plan to which the pharmacist refers represents this level of knowledge from 2021.

Effectiveness of the corona vaccination confirmed


The effectiveness of the corona vaccination in preventing severe COVID-19 courses is well documented. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) repeatedly confirms the great benefit of vaccination and points out that the proportion of unvaccinated people with severe cases of COVID-19 is significantly higher than those who have been vaccinated.

According to the RKI, the effectiveness of the complete vaccination series (two doses) against hospitalization due to COVID-19 is on average around 55 percent. After a third dose, the effectiveness increases to over 81 percent and after a total of four doses to almost 96 percent.

Future vaccination recommendations


Stiko currently intends to include the COVID-19 vaccination in its general vaccination recommendations for 2023 . This step marks a transition from the pandemic phase to a phase where COVID-19 is treated as a regular part of the vaccination regimen.

In summary, it can be said that the corona vaccination is an effective measure against serious courses of COVID-19. Misinformation like that from the pharmacist is often based on misunderstandings or outdated knowledge and should therefore always be critically examined.

Final remark and a note


If there are still people who do not believe the fact check and are convinced that vaccination does not provide protection, it is important to continue to maintain open and respectful communication. One can listen to their concerns and try to point to trustworthy sources and scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of the vaccination.

It may also be helpful to share personal experiences of vaccinated people who have experienced protection from COVID-19. These stories can help reduce fears and concerns and build confidence in vaccination.

Ultimately, the decision to vaccinate remains individual. However, it is important to provide the facts and information so that people can make informed decisions to protect their health and the well-being of the community.


Source: dpa

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )