Aspects of Testing for and Vaccinations against Coronavirus in Germany and Worldwide

Who is Being Tested

When testing, a targeted approach is important. Testing without cause leads to a false sense of security. Even a negative test is also merely a snapshot of a moment and does not absolve the individual from hygienic and preventive measures (keyword AHA+L [keeping distance, hygienic measures, wearing a mask, airing]). Testing without a reasonable suspicion also increases the risk of false positive results and puts strain on the existing test capacity. For this reason, we should test more intensively, but also in a targeted manner [1].

Adaptation of the National Testing Strategy for the Autumn/Winter Season 2020/2021

Those with minor cold symptoms who do not belong to a risk group or have not had contact to someone infected with SARS-CoV-2 will not be tested initially. This decision is to be made by the doctor treating them or contacted by them. These individuals should isolate themselves at home in order to reduce their number of contacts. The RKI recommends that this self-isolation last five days plus two days without symptoms. Those affected should clarify with their employer whether it is possible for them to work from home during this period. If necessary, they should discuss sick leave with their doctor.

The Following Groups of People are Only Entitled to Testing with Near-Patient Antigen Rapid Tests (Poc Antigen Tests) Within the Facility and Business Testing Concept

• Patients, those in assisted living facilities, those requiring care, above all in medical facilities for in-patient and out- patient care (excluding human medical, dental or other medical practices), in in-patient or day patient facilities for the care and accommodation of old, disabled and care-dependent people, of out-patient nursing services and integration assistance services and in day-care hospitals; without COVID-19 cases, according to the facility’s testing concept [1].

• Visitors above all in medical facilities for in-patient and out-patient care (excluding human medical, dental or other medical practices), in in-patient or day patient facilities for the care and accommodation of old, disabled and care-dependent people; immediately before visiting the facility.

Those entering Germany who have spent time in a high- risk area within ten days before entering the country must prove that they are not infected with coronavirus within 48 hours after entering the country. The public health authority responsible or another authority determined by the state can request submission of a negative test result up to ten days after entrance to the country. Those entering from areas with a particularly high risk of infection must provide a negative test result before entering the country.

A negative test result regarding direct pathogen detection of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is deemed proof of testing. This proof of testing can be submitted in paper form or in an electronic document in German, English or French. In general, those entering Germany who have spent time in a high-risk area within ten days before entering the country must isolate at home immediately after entering the country. This isolation can also be ended with a negative test result after a minimum of five days. The details depend on the relevant regulations of the federal states.

Antigen tests which verify the presence of the SARS- CoV-2 protein structures work using a similar principle to that of pregnancy tests. A sample of a swab from the nose and throat is placed on a test strip. If the sample contains the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the protein components of the virus react with the test strip and a change in colour is seen on the test strip. The advantages of antigen tests are the comparatively low costs and the prompt test result (in less than 30 minutes). The ease of use of a point-of-care (PoC) antigen test makes testing also possible outside a laboratory, for example in a care facility or in medical facilities and medical practices without a diagnostic laboratory. Here, a PoC antigen test can help to easily identify asymptomatic and potentially infectious people and to prevent transmission of the virus with suitable measures such as temporary isolation at home. Generally, antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR tests, meaning that a larger quantity of the virus is required for the antigen test to show a positive result. This means that a negative antigen test result does not rule out the possibility of infection with SARS-CoV-2. An antigen rapid test is also not as specific as a PCR test, meaning that positive test results occur when the person is not infected more frequently than with PCR tests. For this reason, a positive antigen test must be confirmed with a PCR test [1].

Vaccination Dashboard

Vaccination Status: up to 8 April 2023. 64.9 million people (77.9% of the population) have received one dose of vaccine. Of these, 63.6 million people (76.4%) have primary immunisation.    52.1 million people (62.6%) have also received a booster vaccination.  12.7 million people (15.2%) received at least two booster vaccinations. 18.4 million people have not been vaccinated (22.1% of the population).

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As can be seen in Figure 2 above, basic immunisation of the population has taken place in Germany.

Vaccine Manufacturers

Deliveries by manufacturer and vaccine type

• By 8 April 2023, 224.1 million doses of vaccine had been delivered.
• The deliveries were from the manufacturers BioNTech/ Pfizer
• (164.7 million doses), Moderna (37.7 million doses), AstraZeneca
• (14.4 million doses), Johnson & Johnson (5.4 million doses), Novavax
• (1.9 million doses), Valneva (100 thousand doses) and Sanofi (6 thousand doses).
• The deliveries also included 13.6 million doses of adapted Omicron vaccine.

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■ BioNTech/Pfizer ■ Moderna ■ AstraZeneca ■ Johnson & Johnson ■ Novavax ■ Valneva ■ Sanofi Vaccines adapted to the Omicron virus variants Figure 3: Administered doses by manufacturing company [4, 5, 6, 7].