Index – Abroad – Those vaccinated with Sputnik V were trapped in Germany

Half a year ago, on his way home, he vaccinated himself with Sputnik V. At that time, there was no vaccine for his age group in Germany, and he considered it important to protect himself and those close to him.

He was aware that Sputnik V could be a problem because it was not allowed in the Federation. However, there was a greater risk of infection in Russia, where few masks were worn and distance rules were not respected, so the journalist did not hesitate: he vaccinated himself. He was assured that he was at least somewhat protected in both Russia and Germany.

However, he made a mistake. Sputnik V is still not recognized in the European Union. Although you are considered fully immune to both vaccines and your body is producing enough antibody, you will need to be tested in Germany on an ongoing basis and may be isolated, depending on the situation.

What can people who have not been officially vaccinated do? One option is to revaccinate themselves, for the third time, with a vaccine approved in the European Union. However, this is not easy – in Germany.

Will the Russian vaccine be approved in the European Union?

Sputnik V in Russia early – according to some Too early – He got a license. It was introduced long before Western vaccines, prompting a string of international criticism. It was later proven that the Sputnik V is still effective.

The Russian vaccine is currently used in more than 60 countries, including Hungary and San Marino, although it is not authorized in the European Union. The European Medicines Agency, perhaps In the fall Approval for marketing the vaccine, although top EU officials still have reservations about the vaccine.

In the spring, when Germany was suffering from a shortage of vaccines, several politicians – including Michael Kretschmer, Prime Minister of Saxony and German Minister of Health Jens Spahn – – Discuss the purchase of the Russian vaccine.

In early August, the European Commission recognized the San Marino Certificate of Protection, where Sputnik V is widely used. However, as the commission later clarified, this does not mean that the Russian vaccine will be licensed in the European Union.

Hundreds or even thousands of EU citizens from Germany and other member states, such as Smolentceva, have traveled to Russia for vaccination due to the period of insecurity in the country. started Vaccine Tourism: Private vaccination rounds have started from Germany to Russia.

For almost 2,000 euros, this couple from Germany embarked on a “vaccination trip” to Russia. pic.twitter.com/QeFY9qrkvT

– DW News (@dwnews) May 13, 2021

Meanwhile, many Hungarians have officially received Russian vaccinations. There are many people around the world who have been vaccinated with Sputnik V and will be traveling to the European Union.

Who is protected?

“He who has been vaccinated with Sputnik V is also immune. You do not need a booster dose and they are protected, even if it is not counted here,” says Karsten Watzel, president of the German Society of Immunology.

The question also has a legal dimension: who is vaccinated and on what basis?

Under current regulations, a person is currently considered immune if they have been vaccinated with one of the authorized vaccines. According to Watzel, a method of measuring a person’s defenses, for example, based on the number of antibodies in his body – will be more reliable – regardless of the reason for the start of the process in the body.

“From an immunological standpoint, there is no reason why people who have received a vaccine not authorized in the European Union should receive a double vaccination,” the immunologist said. In addition, the Robert Koch Institute, the German public health office, has not published a recommendation on what to do in this case.

Without a certificate of protection, it is difficult to travel to and even within the Federation. But the journey isn’t just complicated: With the number of coronavirus diseases on the rise again, access to restaurants, museums and gyms across Germany is once again restricted. The German government will also end free testing in October to encourage vaccination readiness.

Avoid restrictions at all costs

To promote vaccination, both CDU and SPD chancellors, Armin Laschet (CDU) and Olaf Schulz (SPD), have assured that there will be no other shortcuts, at least for those who have been fully vaccinated and fully recovered. Even if the number of infected people increased. The measures appear to be aimed at encouraging people to give vaccinations.

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn said the restrictions are no longer in place simply because 64 per cent of people in Germany have already received at least the first vaccine and 59 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

Those who meet any of the three conditions are exempt from the restrictions.

without official guidance

but what do you do A person who, like Smolenceva, is not considered an official vaccinator? First of all, is it medically advisable to revaccinate with an EU approved vaccine?

According to the author, no one knows because very few studies have been done on the safety and effectiveness of Sputnik’s combination and the four EU approved vaccines, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.

Without proper testing, you can rely only on comparisons, says Cologne’s head of vaccination.

“A vector vaccine is ultimately a vector vaccine, even if different vectors are used,” says Jürgen Zastrow.

As a doctor, I will treat you as an unvaccinated person

He told Smolenteva, who was vaccinated with a Russian vaccine.

However, in Germany, the majority of GPs refuse to vaccinate patients who have previously received Sputnik V because the German Permanent Vaccination Committee has not issued an official recommendation.

(Cover Photo: A man was vaccinated with the Sputnik V vaccine in Russia on July 26, 2021. Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)