Vaccination: Doctors call on people at risk to get Covid and flu vaccinations

In view of the increasing number of corona infections, medical representatives are appealing to risk groups to get vaccinated against Covid-19. “We have very low demand for vaccinations,” said Andreas Gassen, CEO of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians World on Sunday.

Gassen said that many people are understandably tired of vaccinations because of the enormous public pressure for corona vaccinations. However, this could be problematic for risk groups. They should follow the vaccination recommendation in order to protect themselves – including against influenza. The Vaccinations could also be combined.

“Corona could still be a serious illness for particularly vulnerable groups without appropriate vaccination protection,” said Markus Beier, chairman of the German General Practitioners Association. The same applies to the flu. “In a particularly severe flu season, tens of thousands of people are known to die from this disease.” The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommends that people aged 60 and over, but also those with underlying illnesses, get a flu vaccination – annually from October to mid-December.

According to Stiko, adults under the age of 60 usually have basic immunity against Covid-19 after two vaccinations and one illness or after three vaccinations. For people aged 60 and over or those who are at risk of a severe course of Covid-19, Stiko recommends further booster vaccinations twelve months after the last vaccination or illness. No Covid-19 vaccinations are currently necessary for healthy children and young people.