226:, he however stated that he regretted having said anything personal at all, that any suspicions that he himself was a vaccination sceptic were "complete nonsense", and that he had never opposed vaccination. His previous comment had been taken out of context and had been completely correct and comprehensible, he said. At the time of the
230:
interview, the STIKO had only recommended vaccination to those children between five and eleven years of age which belonged to risk groups, while also opening it to other children of that age group on the condition that parents had a discussion with a doctor. In May 2022, the RKI updated its vaccine
187:
became available in late 2020, STIKO and
Mertens moved into the focus of politics, the wider public, and the media. Mertens repeatedly criticized what he said was pressure on STIKO from politics. He himself was criticized for having allegedly confused the public on several occasions, and for having
249:
In
January 2022, Mertens said that he opposed a COVID-19 general vaccine mandate for all aged 18 and over, as this would "divide society". He also expressed doubt about whether such a measure would actually be effective, as even the threat of a fine would possibly not change the minds of those who
258:
In an interview published in
November 2023, Mertens said he saw "no real mistakes" in the work of STIKO during the pandemic; criticism directed at the commission had often been "simply wrong". Many decisions, however, had to be made speedily and with limited knowledge.
254:
parliament, saying that the "main reason" for such a mandate, namely stemming the spread of the virus, could at present not be achieved through vaccination; and that it was "more sensible to limit the vaccine mandate to vulnerable groups".
250:
did not want to be vaccinated. He also opined that the severe COVID-19 wave at that time could not be reined in by a general mandate. In April 2022, he welcomed that the push for a general vaccine mandate had been abandoned in the
170:
announced that a three-term limit would be applied to STIKO members, implying that
Mertens would step down at the end of his term in February 2024. In March 2024, Klaus Ăśberla was chosen as new head of STIKO.
151:, heading the Institute of Virology at the University Clinic there from 1998. In 2018 he retired from his position as professor of virology and medical director. In his research, Mertens worked extensively on
857:
774:"Pressemitteilung der STIKO zur COVID-19-Impfempfehlung für Kinder von 5-11 Jahren und für Personen mit durchgemachter SARS-CoV-2-Infektion und bisher unvollständiger Immunisierung (20. Aktualisierung)"
776:[Press release of STIKO regarding the COVID-19 vaccination recommendation for children from 5 to 11 years and for persons with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and hitherto incomplete immunization].
207:
in
Germany particularly in the age group between 18 and 59 years, stressing the importance of the vaccination rate of that group for the evolution of the fourth wave of the pandemic and beyond.
483:
220:
that if he had a seven- to eight-year old child, he would "probably" refrain from having it vaccinated against the coronavirus at that time; soon after, in a 10 December interview with
203:
in
Germany, Mertens said that it would take over a year to vaccinate the whole population of Germany, due to capacity limits. In September 2021, Mertens expressed dissatisfaction about
745:
632:
544:
929:
661:
576:
423:
717:
934:
302:
Diagnostik und
Therapie von Viruskrankheiten: Leitlinien der Gesellschaft fĂĽr Virologie; Kompendium der klinischen Virologie fĂĽr Studierende und Ă„rzte
607:[CSU state group chief Dobrindt: "Major weak spot" that there is no vaccination offer for the younger (Interview with Katharina Hamberger)].
829:
366:
924:
313:
290:
196:
167:
306:
Diagnostics and
Therapy of Viral Diseases: Guidelines of the Society of Virology; Compendium of Clinical Virology for Students and Doctors
885:
87:
511:
605:"CSU-Landesgruppenchef Dobrindt: "GroĂźe Schwachstelle", dass es kein Impfangebot fĂĽr JĂĽngere gibt (Interview with Katharina Hamberger)"
604:
340:
163:
108:
394:
455:
637:
428:
216:
180:
116:
919:
689:
147:
in virology. From 1985 until 1991 he was professor at the
Institute of Virology in Cologne, after which he moved to
115:
advises the German government regarding vaccines, in which role he became well-known to a wider audience during the
773:
235:
for healthy children from the age of five years for the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, and from six years for
Moderna.
200:
862:
516:
460:
189:
156:
801:
944:
804:[Expert panel in favour of preparation of further protection measures against the coronavirus].
778:
666:
112:
939:
722:
100:
45:
581:
68:
140:
309:
286:
204:
148:
890:
549:
399:
397:["Fake News stubbornly persist in the Internet" (Interview with Wolfgang Geissel)].
184:
886:"Virologe Mertens: "Ich könnte alle diese Impfempfehlungen auch heute noch unterschreiben""
748:[Stiko head Mertens regrets personal statement regarding vaccination of children].
664:[Markus Lanz (ZDF): Stiko chief lets off the booster bomb during the corona talk].
806:
609:
486:[Stiko to undergo extensive change of personnel – head Mertens to end his term].
143:
in 1976. He obtained his medical license (approbation) in 1977. In 1984 he completed his
371:
243:
913:
720:[Stiko head Mertens: "We must convince those reluctant to get vaccinated!"].
152:
232:
144:
136:
49:
395:""Fake News halten sich im Internet hartnäckig" (Interview with Wolfgang Geissel)"
188:
announced an upcoming STIKO recommendation for a booster shot for all adults in a
860:[Stiko head Mertens welcomes the downvote for vaccine mandate from 18].
750:
662:"Markus Lanz (ZDF): Stiko-Chef lässt beim Corona-Talk die Booster-Bombe platzen"
488:
367:"Germany: Top vaccine advisory body STIKO holds off endorsing vaccine for teens"
547:[This retiree decides how Germany vaccinates against the coronavirus].
104:
888:["I could still sign all those vaccination recommendations today"].
251:
267:
Mertens has four children of adult age. His hobby is playing the clarinet.
579:[How STIKO chief caused confusion regarding corona vaccinations].
834:
690:"COVID vaccinations in Germany will take over a year - expert panel head"
222:
694:
211:
128:
832:[Stiko chief Mertens rejects general corona vaccine mandate].
545:"Dieser Ruheständler entscheidet, wie Deutschland gegen Corona impft"
279:
Klinische Infektiologie: Infektionskrankheiten erkennen und behandeln
746:"Stiko-Chef Mertens bedauert persönliche Aussage zur Kinderimpfung"
283:
Clinical Infectiology: Recognizing and Treating Infectious Diseases
277:
Marre, R.; Mertens, T.; Trautmann, M.; Zimmerli, W., eds. (2013).
718:"Stiko-Chef Mertens: "Wir mĂĽssen die Impfunwilligen ĂĽberzeugen!""
308:] (in German) (2nd ed.). Urban & Fischer, Elsevier.
285:] (in German) (2nd ed.). Urban & Fischer, Elsevier.
132:
802:"Expertenrat fĂĽr Vorbereitung weiterer Corona-SchutzmaĂźnahmen"
577:"Wie der Stiko-Chef bei Corona-Impfungen fĂĽr Verwirrung sorgt"
484:"Stiko wird personell neu aufgestellt – Chef Mertens hört auf"
633:"Stiko-Chef Mertens: Druck wegen Kinderimpfung ist "absurd""
514:[Virologist Klaus Ăśberla is the new head of STIKO].
166:(STIKO), and became its head in 2017. In November 2023, the
830:"Stiko-Chef Mertens lehnt allgemeine Corona-Impfpflicht ab"
458:[Thomas Mertens: virologist is new head of STIKO].
192:, rather than through standard channels, in November 2021.
195:
In early December 2020, shortly before the rollout of the
512:"Virologe Klaus Ăśberla ist neuer Vorsitzender der STIKO"
858:"Stiko-Chef Mertens begrĂĽĂźt Aus fĂĽr Impfpflicht ab 18"
449:
447:
127:
From 1968 to 1976, Mertens first studied chemistry in
456:"Thomas Mertens: Virologe ist neuer Leiter der STIKO"
82:
74:
64:
56:
28:
21:
570:
568:
539:
537:
535:
231:recommendations to include a single shot of an
88:https://www.rki.de/EN/Home/homepage_node.html
8:
210:In early December 2021, Mertens stated in a
242:(corona advisory panel) established by the
335:
333:
238:Mertens became an inaugural member of the
18:
16:German virologist and government adviser
930:Academic staff of the University of Ulm
575:Peduto, Alessandro (20 December 2021).
422:Geinitz, Christian (17 November 2021).
329:
660:Hairapetian, Marc (17 November 2021).
426:[Haven of peace of science].
7:
139:(Dr. med.) under the supervision of
454:Spielberg, Petra (31 March 2017).
14:
164:Standing Committee on Vaccination
109:Standing Committee on Vaccination
935:People from Freiburg im Breisgau
197:Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
97:Thomas Michael Christian Mertens
726:(in German). 25 September 2021
641:(in German). 30 September 2021
217:Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
111:(STIKO), which as part of the
1:
894:(in German). 23 November 2023
754:(in German). 10 December 2021
492:(in German). 23 November 2023
925:Robert Koch Institute people
838:(in German). 13 January 2022
810:(in German). 23 January 2022
181:COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
162:In 2004, Mertens joined the
117:COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
961:
520:(in German). 14 March 2024
424:"Ruhepol der Wissenschaft"
403:(in German). 13 April 2017
168:Federal Ministry of Health
866:(in German). 5 April 2022
613:(in German). 11 July 2021
300:Mertens, T., ed. (2004).
135:, where he completed his
782:(in German). 24 May 2022
553:(in German). 4 July 2021
201:Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
863:Stuttgarter Nachrichten
107:and former head of the
99:(born 10 March 1950 in
345:www.bundesregierung.de
341:"Prof. Thomas Mertens"
141:de:Hans Joachim Eggers
667:Frankfurter Rundschau
131:and then medicine in
113:Robert Koch Institute
517:Deutsches Ă„rzteblatt
461:Deutsches Ă„rzteblatt
101:Freiburg im Breisgau
46:Freiburg im Breisgau
582:Berliner Morgenpost
920:German virologists
246:in December 2021.
240:Corona-Expertenrat
69:Cologne University
698:. 2 December 2020
315:978-3-437-21971-9
292:978-3-437-31355-4
271:Books (as editor)
205:vaccine hesitancy
175:COVID-19 pandemic
149:University of Ulm
94:
93:
952:
904:
903:
901:
899:
882:
876:
875:
873:
871:
854:
848:
847:
845:
843:
826:
820:
819:
817:
815:
798:
792:
791:
789:
787:
770:
764:
763:
761:
759:
742:
736:
735:
733:
731:
714:
708:
707:
705:
703:
686:
680:
679:
677:
675:
657:
651:
650:
648:
646:
629:
623:
622:
620:
618:
601:
595:
594:
592:
590:
572:
563:
562:
560:
558:
550:Wirtschaftswoche
541:
530:
529:
527:
525:
508:
502:
501:
499:
497:
480:
474:
473:
471:
469:
451:
442:
441:
439:
437:
419:
413:
412:
410:
408:
391:
385:
384:
382:
380:
363:
357:
356:
354:
352:
347:(in German). n.d
337:
319:
296:
155:, in particular
90:
42:
38:
36:
19:
960:
959:
955:
954:
953:
951:
950:
949:
910:
909:
908:
907:
897:
895:
884:
883:
879:
869:
867:
856:
855:
851:
841:
839:
828:
827:
823:
813:
811:
807:Deutschlandfunk
800:
799:
795:
785:
783:
772:
771:
767:
757:
755:
744:
743:
739:
729:
727:
716:
715:
711:
701:
699:
688:
687:
683:
673:
671:
659:
658:
654:
644:
642:
631:
630:
626:
616:
614:
610:Deutschlandfunk
603:
602:
598:
588:
586:
574:
573:
566:
556:
554:
543:
542:
533:
523:
521:
510:
509:
505:
495:
493:
482:
481:
477:
467:
465:
453:
452:
445:
435:
433:
421:
420:
416:
406:
404:
393:
392:
388:
378:
376:
375:. 3 August 2021
365:
364:
360:
350:
348:
339:
338:
331:
326:
316:
299:
293:
276:
273:
265:
177:
125:
86:
65:Alma mater
52:
43:
40:
34:
32:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
958:
956:
948:
947:
942:
937:
932:
927:
922:
912:
911:
906:
905:
877:
849:
821:
793:
765:
737:
709:
681:
652:
624:
596:
564:
531:
503:
475:
443:
414:
386:
372:Deutsche Welle
358:
328:
327:
325:
322:
321:
320:
314:
297:
291:
272:
269:
264:
261:
244:Scholz cabinet
176:
173:
153:herpes viruses
124:
121:
103:) is a German
92:
91:
84:
80:
79:
76:
72:
71:
66:
62:
61:
58:
54:
53:
44:
30:
26:
25:
23:Thomas Mertens
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
957:
946:
945:Living people
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
917:
915:
893:
892:
891:Ă„rzte-Zeitung
887:
881:
878:
865:
864:
859:
853:
850:
837:
836:
831:
825:
822:
809:
808:
803:
797:
794:
781:
780:
775:
769:
766:
753:
752:
747:
741:
738:
725:
724:
719:
713:
710:
697:
696:
691:
685:
682:
669:
668:
663:
656:
653:
640:
639:
634:
628:
625:
612:
611:
606:
600:
597:
584:
583:
578:
571:
569:
565:
552:
551:
546:
540:
538:
536:
532:
519:
518:
513:
507:
504:
491:
490:
485:
479:
476:
463:
462:
457:
450:
448:
444:
431:
430:
425:
418:
415:
402:
401:
400:Ă„rzte-Zeitung
396:
390:
387:
374:
373:
368:
362:
359:
346:
342:
336:
334:
330:
323:
317:
311:
307:
303:
298:
294:
288:
284:
280:
275:
274:
270:
268:
263:Personal life
262:
260:
256:
253:
247:
245:
241:
236:
234:
229:
225:
224:
219:
218:
213:
208:
206:
202:
198:
193:
191:
186:
182:
174:
172:
169:
165:
160:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
134:
130:
122:
120:
118:
114:
110:
106:
102:
98:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
70:
67:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
41:(age 74)
39:10 March 1950
31:
27:
20:
896:. Retrieved
889:
880:
868:. Retrieved
861:
852:
840:. Retrieved
833:
824:
812:. Retrieved
805:
796:
784:. Retrieved
777:
768:
756:. Retrieved
749:
740:
728:. Retrieved
721:
712:
700:. Retrieved
693:
684:
672:. Retrieved
665:
655:
643:. Retrieved
636:
627:
615:. Retrieved
608:
599:
587:. Retrieved
580:
555:. Retrieved
548:
522:. Retrieved
515:
506:
494:. Retrieved
487:
478:
466:. Retrieved
459:
434:. Retrieved
427:
417:
405:. Retrieved
398:
389:
377:. Retrieved
370:
361:
349:. Retrieved
344:
305:
301:
282:
278:
266:
257:
248:
239:
237:
233:mRNA vaccine
227:
221:
215:
209:
194:
178:
161:
145:habilitation
137:dissertation
126:
96:
95:
50:West Germany
940:1950 births
898:23 November
751:Der Spiegel
670:(in German)
585:(in German)
496:23 November
489:Der Spiegel
464:(in German)
432:(in German)
179:During the
57:Nationality
914:Categories
324:References
105:virologist
78:Virologist
75:Occupation
35:1950-03-10
842:19 August
814:18 August
786:19 August
758:19 August
730:18 August
702:18 August
674:20 August
645:19 August
617:19 August
589:18 August
557:18 August
524:24 August
468:18 August
436:18 August
407:19 August
379:18 August
351:18 August
252:Bundestag
190:talk show
870:22 April
835:Die Welt
228:Die Welt
223:Die Welt
199:and the
185:vaccines
183:, after
695:Reuters
212:podcast
129:Cologne
83:Website
312:
289:
123:Career
60:German
304:[
281:[
900:2023
872:2022
844:2022
816:2022
788:2022
760:2022
732:2022
704:2022
676:2022
647:2022
619:2022
591:2022
559:2022
526:2024
498:2023
470:2022
438:2022
409:2022
381:2022
353:2022
310:ISBN
287:ISBN
157:HCMV
133:Bonn
29:Born
779:RKI
638:FAZ
429:FAZ
214:by
119:.
916::
723:BR
692:.
635:.
567:^
534:^
446:^
369:.
343:.
332:^
159:.
48:,
37:)
902:.
874:.
846:.
818:.
790:.
762:.
734:.
706:.
678:.
649:.
621:.
593:.
561:.
528:.
500:.
472:.
440:.
411:.
383:.
355:.
318:.
295:.
33:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.