STIKO updates COVID-19 vaccination recommendations in Germany

The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations in Germany. The primary change involves raising the age threshold for the standard annual booster from 60 to 75 years.

This adjustment is based on data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) indicating that over 95 percent of adults now possess broad immunity through a combination of previous vaccinations and infections. Consequently, the recommendation to build basic immunity through at least three antigen contacts for adults over 18 has been removed.

Despite these changes, annual vaccinations are still recommended for specific groups regardless of age, including: • Individuals with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of severe disease (such as chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, liver, or kidney diseases, diabetes, obesity, or immunosuppression). • Residents of nursing homes. • Certain medical and nursing staff with high occupational exposure risks. • Close contacts of individuals who do not produce a protective immune response following vaccination.