Dr Dittmar, looking at the current status of the coronavirus pandemic: What are your feelings going into Christmas this year?
Dr Dittmar: I feel very good about it as both my family and I have had three vaccinations or have recovered and been boosted.
How can we all prepare for a Christmas with our families to make sure it's as safe as possible?
Dr Dittmar: The crucial point is whether or not you have the so-called booster vaccination. Because only with this third vaccination is the initial immunisation complete. If you've had it, then coming together at Christmas is possible without any major reservations. Of course, the situation is to be seen differently if there are people from vulnerable groups in the family. And if you only feel slightly ill then you should obviously avoid coming together at Christmas to protect people with weaker immune systems.
What steps has Bayer 04 taken in recent weeks and months to counter the spread of the virus and to restrict as far as possible the risk of infection within the club?
Dr Dittmar: Back at the start of January 2020, when the first news of coronavirus came out of China at the beginning of the pandemic, we set up a 'Health' working party. That included members of staff from different sections. In addition, we implemented comprehensive hygiene and distancing rules very early and made mask wearing compulsory. It was also important to was to keep employees up-to-date at all times and help them to make their working day and their domestic situation as safe as possible. Be that with flow tests for the family for Christmas in 2020 or an early vaccination campaign based on comprehensive information and education. Those measures appear to have been successful as we have not had an infection outbreak here at Bayer 04 to date.
The first-team squad and all members of the coaching and support staff have 2G status. Accordingly they are fully vaccinated and boosted, and recovered players and staff members will be given the booster soon. How were you able to achieve that 100% take-up?
Dr Dittmar: We didn't force anybody to have a vaccination but instead looked to have discussions and, with the help of convincing arguments, deliver effective persuasion. But I also have to say that we also had a grateful reception.
What is the coronavirus status within the Bayer 04 work force?
Dr Dittmar:As part of our vaccination campaign within the company, we have obviously offered first, second and third vaccinations to all members of staff. With a few exceptions, all our employees have had at least two vaccinations. At the start of December, over 170 of them had their booster at the BayArena and a lot of others had already had their third vaccination before that.
Looking at the current numbers in Germany we are currently in the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The seven-day incidence rate has gone down in the past few days. Is that a snapshot or a trend that will continue?
Dr Dittmar: Pandemics often come in four waves where the fourth is mostly the strongest. Therefore, the progress of the coronavirus pandemic to date is not unusual. We are at the end of the pandemic and moving into an endemic situation. That means that the virus continues to be found in our environment but over the medium-term does not create serious problems. People then build up an immunity against the virus – be that through full vaccination or infection. It is to be assumed that nearly all the unvaccinated will fall ill in the next one or two years. Coronavirus will develop into an illness of the unvaccinated and children in the medium term. In contrast, an infection for vaccinated people will be similar to a normal case of flu. Obviously, as with all viral infections, people with weakened immune systems are at risk be that through illness, age or other factors.
What role does the booster vaccination play in combating coronavirus and thereby ending the pandemic, which we all yearn for?
Dr Dittmar: A very crucial one. This third vaccination, described as a booster, is initially aimed at providing full vaccine protection. It is part of an initial immunisation and thereby the most important of all vaccinations for sustainable immunity. It has the chance of being sustainable. Initial hopes that two vaccinations would be enough for initial immunisation unfortunately proved not to be the case. But that's not unusual if you look at other pandemics and combating them.
Will we need a booster every year?
Dr Dittmar: Further vaccinations may be necessary with potential new variants. But that doesn't have to be the case. I have justified hope to believe that third vaccination will last and at least protect against serious illness.
Since 13 December, it has been possible to vaccinate children from the age of five. The permanent vaccination committee (STIKO) has not yet issued a general recommendation to vaccinate this age group but has recommended vaccinations if the children have existing illness or are in contact with members of vulnerable groups. From what age would you recommend vaccination?
Dr Dittmar: I would start at the age of five but there is insufficient data there at the moment. At the end of the day, you should ask the doctor the question of what he would do with his own children if the tables were turned. My clear answer is: Yes. I don't have any second thoughts. The vaccination has been used on children millions of times. Therefore I hope that all parents decide to have their children vaccinated from the age of five.
What do you say to people who are hesitant and reject vaccination due to possible long-term effects?
Dr Dittmar: One thing must be made clear: We don't have the choice between vaccination or no vaccination but instead between vaccination and illness. There is a lot of misunderstanding on the subject of long-term effects. The coronavirus vaccination is not tested less than any other and the approval programmes were no less thorough. The approval of vaccinations just happened quicker as the bureaucratic procedures were considerably speeded up. We're talking about a few days instead of months or years. The vaccine has now been given billions of times and all possible effects are known. You can be sure there will be no side effects in the next ten years that we don't know about now.
The Omicron variant of coronavirus has been a big subject in the news over the past few days and weeks. What is known about this variant and what role will it play in the pandemic?
Dr Dittmar: This variant has two specific features: It has lots of mutations and is highly infectious. But the latter could be useful in ending the pandemic. First indications from South Africa indicate that the Omicron variant appears to be found mainly in the upper respiratory tract. The previous variants were more often found in the nose and throat instead – as with most of the original variants – deep in the lungs, which made them more dangerous. A virus found in the nose and throat can infect the next host easier as the distances are shorter. That makes the infection more infectious but produces colds and throat infections instead of lung damage. Such a variant can therefore lead to greater infection and wider immunity as a result and could be a possible way out of the pandemic.
And finally, what hopes and positive thoughts can you give people for the New Year?
Dr Dittmar: I hope, as I said, that the current fourth wave will be the worst and will then only be followed by smaller ones. The effect of the pandemic will hopefully decrease in 2022. The crucial step for that and to get back to a normal life is and remains vaccination. A large number of beds in ICUs are occupied by people suffering from Covid who are unvaccinated. They are blocking the beds for other patients with different serious injuries and diseases. Every individual, in addition to taking responsibility for themselves, owes a responsibility to society. Therefore, my request to everybody is the only logical one: Get vaccinated, get your booster!
Dr Karl-Heinrich Dittmar:
Dr Dittmar as a specialist in internal medicine and has worked for Bayer 04 since 2002. He has led the medical section for many years. That covers the disciplines of orthopaedics, internal medicine, sports science fitness, rehab therapy/Bayer 04 Werkstatt, sports psychology and physiotherapy. During the redevelopment of the BayArena in 2009, Dr Dittmar was heavily involved in the planning and design of the medical facilities. The Werkstatt at the stadium, with its high-tech devices, hypoxia and cold chamber or weightless treadmill has set new standards in the area of sports medical care for top athletes. Dr Dittmar has been the medical director at Bayer 04 since July 2019 and has occupied the position of pandemic officer at Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH for many years.
