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German vaccination recommendations for respiratory diseases

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What changed

2026-09-29 15:55 UTC → 2026-10-04 08:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Germany’s Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko) has issued updated guidance for the upcoming respiratory infection season, focusing on influenza, Covid-19, and RSV. For influenza, annual vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers, residents of care facilities, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those aged 60 and older. Regarding Covid-19, Stiko has shifted its approach from recommending basic immunity for all adults over 18 to recommending booster shots for specific high-risk groups. These targeted groups include individuals aged 75 and older, residents of care facilities, pregnant women with specific risks, and individuals aged 6 months and older with certain pre-existing medical conditions. Medical experts noted that while many cases are mild, the virus can act as a “multisystem disease” affecting the lungs, heart, and blood vessels, potentially leading to long-term complications. For the 2026/2027 season, vaccination strategies have evolved to include vaccines targeting two different virus variants. Following WHO recommendations for the Omicron subvariant LP.8.1 and EMA proposals for the XFG variant, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) expects that vaccines for either variant will offer similar protection against severe illness. In Germany, Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccines adapted to LP.8.1 are being prioritized for those aged 12 and older until February 28, 2027, after which XFG-adapted vaccines will be used for adolescents and adults. Furthermore, Stiko updated its recommendations to note that healthy adults no longer need to specifically pursue three SARS-CoV-2 antigen contacts.

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