• Vaccinations first and foremost protect the people who have been vaccinated against certain medical conditions or more serious cases of illness. At the same time, these people help to stem the spread of the illness among the general population. This is important for people who are particularly susceptible to illness or unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.

By getting vaccinated, people therefore do more than just protect themselves; they also protect those around them. This is known as community protection.

• People can be vaccinated against many different pathogens. Infectious diseases are usually caused by bacteria or viruses. 

An overview of all medical conditions for which vaccines are available can be obtained from the Robert Koch Institute, for example.

The Standing Committee on Vaccination in Germany (Ständige Impfkommission – STIKO) is a group of independent experts that develops recommendations for vaccinations in Germany.

• STIKO considers the latest scientific data on vaccinations and infectious diseases, and assesses the potential benefits of vaccination for both individuals and the population as a whole. In doing so, it bases its work on the criteria established for evidence-based medicine.

The website infektionsschutz.de provides information about which routine vaccinations are recommended for you or your relatives.

The vaccination check service from the Federal Institute of Public Health enables you to check your vaccination status in relation to individual vaccinations in just a few clicks.

• It is generally possible to administer multiple vaccines on the same day.
• A combination vaccine, where multiple vaccines are administered in a single injection, can be used to vaccinate people against several illnesses at the same time.
• Depending on the vaccine, it can be wise to leave some time before other vaccinations. The vaccinator should be notified about any other recent vaccinations.

• Inactivated vaccines contain pathogens or pathogen components that have already been killed. Most vaccines are inactivated vaccines.
• Live vaccines contain live pathogens. These pathogens have been attenuated (weakened) and are usually unable to trigger illness. 
• Gene-based vaccines contain information about the tiny building blocks that make up the pathogen. The body’s own cells read this information and produce small parts of the pathogen. These parts then stimulate the body’s immune defenses. Gene-based vaccines include mRNA vaccines, for example. The mRNA contained is broken down naturally once it has been read.
  

• There are only a few contraindications to vaccination. 
• It may be necessary to postpone a vaccination due to a high temperature.
• Inactivated vaccines and mRNA vaccines can be administered to almost anyone. Some restrictions apply to live vaccines, for example due to pregnancy or severe immunodeficiency.

The RKI offers clear information about genuine and false contraindications.

• A chronic illness or autoimmune disease is not a fundamental contraindication to vaccination. On the contrary: people with such conditions are often at particularly high risk of serious cases of illness. Many vaccinations are therefore recommended for them.
• The same applies to people with an immune deficiency.
• Are you chronically ill? Then get advice on the vaccinations that are recommended for you.

As our immune defenses deteriorate with age and the risk of more severe cases of illness increases, vaccinations against shingles (herpes zoster) and pneumococcal disease are recommended for people aged 60 or above. Annual flu vaccination boosters should also be administered from this age.

People aged over 75 or who are housed in a care facility are also advised to get vaccinated against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and to have an annual COVID-19 booster vaccination.

• Reactions to vaccinations are typical symptoms that occur after a vaccination, such as reddening, swelling or pain at the injection site. They can also include having a high temperature, headache or achy limbs as well as feeling generally unwell. These reactions occur due to the desired activation of the immune system and usually go away by themselves after a few days without any further consequences.
• In the event of extremely severe symptoms following vaccination, always seek medical advice.
• If you suspect that you are experiencing a side-effect, you can report this to the Paul Ehrlich Institute.

The following facilities are authorized to administer vaccinations:

• Medical practices
• Pharmacies (COVID-19, flu)
• Public health authorities
• Company physicians

• The first point of contact is your family doctor’s practice. Vaccinations that have been administered by the practice can be recorded in a new certificate of vaccination. 
• If patients are not sure if they have already received a vaccination, this is re-administered just in case. There is not normally any harm in receiving one more vaccine dose than recommended. If patients are not fully vaccinated, on the other hand, their level of immunization is lower or non-existent.

• Allergic reactions to the substances contained in vaccines can occur in isolated cases.
• Patients with a known allergy to a substance contained in a vaccine or who have previously had an allergic reaction to a vaccine should advise the vaccinator of this prior to their next vaccine. The vaccinator can then decide which vaccines can be used.

• Vaccinations can sometimes trigger a sense of fear in both children and adults. It is important to discuss these fears in advance. This enables vaccinators to adapt to them. 

The RKI has compiled tips on stress-free vaccinations for parents and children.

• Many medical practices offer consultations irrespective of the vaccination action week.
• Various different vaccines are recommended when travelling.
• A consultation enables you to discuss questions about vaccinations and other precautionary measures. You can also find out about the individual costs and any potential cost coverage. 

The RKI publishes an annual overview of recommended travel vaccinations.
The German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tropenmedizin, Reisemedizin und Globale Gesundheit e.V.) offers a specialist doctor search function.

You can integrate the logo into your materials or website. It can be requested by e-mailing ImpfAktionswoche@bmg.bund.de.

DIN-A4 vaccination action week poster

DIN-A4 vaccination action week poster, for completion 

Available for download or to order in the BIÖG shop

• Poster template with blank fields for completion
• Coronavirus vaccination
• Flu vaccination
• Pneumococcal vaccination
• RSV vaccination