Vaccinations

Vaccination provides protection against infectious diseases.

Once a year, the Standing Committee on Vaccination at the Robert Koch Institute (STIKO) issues recommendations as to which vaccinations are useful when in general and for whom in particular. The recommendations of the STIKO are considered a scientific standard. There is no compulsory vaccination in Germany.

After a primary vaccination, usually in infancy or early childhood, many vaccinations require regular booster vaccinations in order to maintain vaccination protection. Some vaccinations are also recommended for specific occupational groups or groups of people, such as pregnant women.

Vaccinations are carried out by your family doctor or paediatrician , consultations are provided by the locally responsible health authority.

Prerequisites for vaccination are:

• Examination of the individual necessity of each vaccination
• appropriate state of health of the person to be vaccinated

Contact your family doctor or your child's paediatrician for vaccinations and consultations, and the health authority responsible for you for consultations. Some health authorities also carry out vaccinations themselves.

Tip: On the website of the Robert Koch Institute you will find the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination with the vaccinations that infants, toddlers, adolescents and adults should receive. You will also find a table of indication and booster vaccinations. The recommendations shall be explained by explanatory memorandums and communications. Further information on vaccination can be found on the website of the Federal Centre for Health Education under www.impfen-info.de

You can find out which vaccinations are important for travellers on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Vaccinations carried out are entered in a yellow vaccination certificate. You will receive the vaccination certificate from your family doctor or paediatrician.

The costs for vaccinations recommended by STIKO, with the exception of travel vaccinations, are covered by the health insurance company. For travel vaccinations, there is no obligation for the statutory health insurance companies to cover the costs. To clarify the question of the extent to which individual health insurance companies cover the costs of a travel vaccination as an additional service, please contact your health insurance company.

The Measles Protection Act came into force on 1 March 2020.