"Vaccinate now. And the winter can come." This is an appeal from the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
With the onset of the colder season, the likelihood of flu and coronaviruses leading to many illnesses increases again this year. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends booster vaccinations against influenza and coronavirus in the fall, especially for risk groups and their contacts, to protect against serious illnesses in themselves and others.
In addition to people over 60 years of age, the risk groups are chronically ill people, immunocompromised people and their contacts, as well as staff in medical facilities and people in facilities with extensive public traffic.
Flu vaccinations from October to mid-December
In recent years, the annual wave of influenza in Germany has usually peaked after the turn of the year. After vaccination, it usually takes 10 to 14 days for the vaccination protection to build up completely. For this reason, vaccination is recommended from October to mid-December.
However, as the duration of an influenza wave can never be accurately predicted, it may still be advisable to catch up on missed vaccinations during the course of the flu epidemic.
A booster vaccination against the coronavirus is recommended for people with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 and people of all ages who work in medical and nursing care, with a minimum interval of twelve months between the last vaccination or infection. A booster vaccination may also be advisable for family members and close contacts of people at risk.
If desired, both vaccinations can be administered at the same time. Ask your family doctor for advice.
Effective vaccines are also available against other serious infections such as shingles, pneumococcus or the RS virus for older people and people with certain pre-existing conditions.
This opportunity can also be used to clarify whether further booster vaccinations recommended by the STIKO are advisable, particularly against whooping cough, and whether gaps in vaccination should be closed, e.g. for measles.
Protect yourself and others. Get vaccinated!