Decision of the STIKO on the 4th update of the COVID-19 vaccination recommendation and the associated scientific justification - 8 April, 2021

STIKO recommends vaccination against COVID-19 with one of the two approved mRNA vaccines (Comirnaty from BioNTech / Pfizer, COVID-19 Vaccine from Moderna) or one of the two approved vector-based vaccines (COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, COVID- 19 Vaccine Janssen). The vaccines are judged to be equally suitable in terms of individual protection and the fight against the pandemic.

• The two mRNA vaccines and COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen can be used in all age and indication groups for which they are approved.
• A vaccination series that has already started must currently be completed with the same product; apart from an exception applying to the vaccination of people <60 years of age who have already received the first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. Until more data is available, the STIKO recommends that these people be given a dose of an mRNA vaccine 12 weeks after the initial vaccination instead of the second AstraZeneca vaccine dose.