Vaccination recommendations for Germany.

BACKGROUND

Vaccination is an effective means of preventing infectious diseases. In Germany, the Standing Vaccination Committee at the Robert Koch Institute (Ständige Impfkommission, STIKO) issues recommendations on vaccination to prevent the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases in the nation's population.

METHODS

Selective literature review, including consideration of the current STIKO recommendations.

RESULTS

The annually updated vaccination calendar currently includes recommendations for vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, type b Haemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, and pneumococci, beginning at the age of eight weeks. From the age of twelve months onward, children should be vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and serogroup C meningococci. In later childhood and adolescence, booster vaccinations are recommended, in addition to the provision of any vaccinations that may have been missed. Girls aged 12 to 17 years should be vaccinated against human papilloma virus. Adults should have their tetanus and diphtheria vaccinations refreshed regularly, and their pertussis vaccination refreshed once; from age 60 onward, they should be vaccinated against pneumococci and influenza.

CONCLUSIONS

The vaccinations recommended by the STIKO are available to all German citizens free of charge and provide effective protection against infectious disease.