The vaccination against flu
The vaccination against influenza is now probably the most established in the autumn months. It is recommended by the STIKO for everyone over 60 years of age and for people aged six months and over who are particularly at risk of suffering severely from the flu due to an underlying illness. Also for employees in practices, clinics and nursing homes as well as for relatives of chronically ill people and those requiring care. The STIKO also recommends this vaccination for pregnant women from the fourth month onwards.
The committee is still cautious about making a general recommendation for otherwise healthy children because they generally do not become seriously ill. Pediatricians see it quite differently: If more children were vaccinated, fewer viruses would be carried into families. In addition, children’s hospitals are particularly busy in the winter months due to the numerous respiratory infections; fewer children with flu would provide relief. In the USA, for example, there is already a general vaccination recommendation for little ones with noticeable advantages for pediatric care in winter.
For people over 60 years of age, STIKO recommends a so-called high-dose vaccine for flu, which contains more antigens. Older people have a weaker immune system and sometimes no longer respond well to vaccinations. The increased amount of antigen is said to result in an improved immune response. For everyone else, the so-called trivalent vaccine, which is made up of three different influenza types, is recommended this year. There are also years when a vaccine for four different types is advised, but due to the predominant virus lineages this is not considered necessary this season. If you are not one of those for whom the vaccination is officially recommended, but would like to protect yourself against the flu, you can discuss this individually with your pediatrician or family doctor.
The vaccination against Corona
In principle, the STIKO recommends the Covid vaccination to the same group of people to whom it also recommends the flu vaccination. The same applies here for everyone else: If you are interested, speak to your family doctor or pediatrician. The vaccinations against flu and corona can also be given at the same time – once in the left arm, once in the right arm. Tolerability is good, even if you receive both vaccinations at the same time. The corona vaccination is now an integral part of the vaccination calendar in autumn. Like the influenza viruses, the coronavirus is constantly changing. For this reason it is necessary to adapt the vaccine. In Germany – following WHO recommendations – vaccines adapted to the Omicron sublines JN.1 and KP.2 are now being injected.
The vaccination against RSV
This vaccination is a newcomer among the autumn injections. There are innovations for old people as well as for infants. Since this fall, STIKO has been recommending so-called passive vaccination for infants in their first year of life. This involves injecting antibodies that are immediately available to the body for protection; it does not have to form defense cells itself. Apart from redness at the injection site and a slight fever, studies show that the vaccination is well tolerated. Starting this year, the following applies: Children born between April and September will receive the vaccination in the pediatrician’s office. Babies born from October to March should receive the vaccination directly in the clinic. Pediatricians complain that the vaccination is not yet available in some cases. In the future, the rhythm – divided according to the month of birth – should be maintained so that everyone is protected in their first year of life. At this age, the virus can cause particularly serious illnesses. The RS virus is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization for children under one year of age. Fortunately, studies have shown that babies are very well protected by the new vaccination option.
This text comes from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
The RS virus can be dangerous not only for the very young, but also for the very old. That’s why, from this year onwards, STIKO is also recommending that people aged 75 and over and those with a serious underlying illness protect themselves against RSV. In older people it is an active vaccination, so the organism has to produce antibodies itself. So far, this vaccination has only been planned once; according to STIKO, there is still a lack of data as to whether a repetition is necessary in one of the coming autumns.
Vaccination against pneumococcus
These bacteria can cause various diseases – sinusitis, meningitis or life-threatening sepsis. The youngest and the oldest are particularly at risk, which is why the STIKO recommends that all infants from the age of two months and all people from the age of 60 receive a vaccination or a booster vaccination. Pneumococci often take advantage of spreading through the organism when the body is already weakened after a viral infection. This is why this infection occurs more frequently in the cold season.
The vaccination against whooping cough
Vaccinations are primarily intended to protect the vaccinated person, but indirectly also to protect the environment. Both effects are exploited in the whooping cough vaccination. Whooping cough is particularly threatening to infants; In them, the pathogen can lead to pneumonia and brain inflammation, and in the worst case, even death. They themselves can only be vaccinated after the second month of life; before that, they are dependent on others not infecting them. Adolescents are generally immunized during infancy. A refresher is necessary at primary school age. Adults, especially parents and grandparents, are recommended to have a one-time booster to avoid infecting infants – and of course to protect themselves, as whooping cough can be long-term and cause complications. The vaccination can be given together with a booster against tetanus.
