A growing chorus of medical professionals is urging a significant expansion of Germany’s influenza vaccination program, sparking a debate over public health strategy and government prioritization. At the annual congress of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine (Divi) in Hamburg, Divi President Florian Hoffmann issued a direct appeal to the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko), advocating for a universal recommendation for influenza vaccination for all individuals aged six months and older.
The current Stiko recommendation targets individuals over 60 and those considered at risk, a framework now being questioned in light of data highlighting the severe impact of influenza on younger demographics. Divi’s own data reveal a concerning trend: a significant number of children, many without pre-existing conditions, experienced serious influenza infections last season. Between January and May, approximately 135,000 individuals required hospitalization due to influenza, including nearly 30,000 minors. Alarmingly, 500 children and adolescents required ventilation and 82 succumbed to complications.
Beyond the direct impact on children, medical experts like Hoffmann argue that younger individuals play a crucial role in transmission. A broader vaccination campaign, they contend, would not only protect children but also curtail the spread of the virus within families and schools, mitigating the burden on the healthcare system. Hoffmann sharply criticized current vaccination rates, dismissing the perception of influenza as a minor illness, a sentiment at odds with the observed reality of its severity within intensive care units.
However, the proposal faces resistance. Nicole Töpfner, chair of the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI), expressed reservations, asserting that most healthy children and adolescents recover adequately from influenza. The DGPI believes a universal recommendation is not essential and that prioritizing vulnerable populations and their close contacts remains the most effective approach. Parents of healthy children retain the option of vaccination independently of a Stiko recommendation.
Further complicating the situation, the Stiko has adopted a cautiously neutral stance. Berit Lange, chair of the Influenza Working Group within Stiko, acknowledged the ongoing rise in influenza cases, but stated they remain within expected parameters. She indicated no immediate plans to deviate from established procedures for adjusting recommendations, while assuring that the matter remains a priority and an assessment of the available data is underway “as quickly as possible.
The emerging conflict highlights a broader tension in Germany’s healthcare policy: balancing the costs and potential risks of widespread vaccination against the demonstrable impact of preventable diseases, particularly within the context of an increasingly strained healthcare infrastructure. The Stiko’s deliberation represents a critical juncture, potentially signaling a shift in national strategy toward proactive, population-wide preventative measures or reinforcing the existing framework centered on targeted risk groups.
