The head of Germany’s independent vaccine advisory panel has said it’s likely that everyone will have to get vaccinated again next year against Covid-19, AP reports.

Thomas Mertens told the Funke newspaper group that there isn’t yet enough data to say when exactly booster shots will be needed, and officials will have to wait a few months to see whether protection against the coronavirus weakens in some groups.

But he stressed that “the virus won’t leave us again” and so the vaccinations currently under way won’t be the last. He added: “In principle, we have to prepare for everyone possibly having to refresh their vaccine protection next year.”