People aged 70 and over asked for a Corona booster vaccination

People aged 70 and over, whose last corona vaccination was at least six months ago, are called upon to have a booster vaccination.

As the State Ministry of Health announced in Düsseldorf on Tuesday, around 2.8 million citizens of this age group will be informed by post in North Rhine-Westphalia in the coming weeks.

However, the letter is not a prerequisite for the free Piks from the family doctor.

Düsseldorf - There is currently no general recommendation from the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) at the Robert Koch Institute for a booster vaccination even for under-70s.

However, the Conference of Health Ministers recommends all those who have received both vaccinations with Astrazeneca or only the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, regardless of age, to make an appointment with a doctor for a booster with an mRNA vaccine.

According to the current state of knowledge, the effectiveness of the corona vaccination decreases about six months after the second vaccination - especially for older people, the ministry reported.

Nevertheless, “comparatively good vaccination protection is still available”.

The booster vaccinations that are already underway in nursing homes should be completed by the end of October.

This is already going on in dementia shared apartments or workshops for the disabled.

The Stiko also recommends the refresher for staff in nursing and medical professions with direct contact with old people and patients as well as for people with immunodeficiency.

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Stiko boss Mertens: pressure because of child vaccination is "absurd"

From the perspective of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), a possible vaccination recommendation for children under the age of 12 is even more difficult than that for 12 to 17 year olds.

No child under 17 died in Germany exclusively from Covid-19, said Stiko chairman Thomas Mertens of the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and the "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" (Thursday).

Because the burden of disease in 12 to 17 year olds was so low, the decision to vaccinate was so difficult in the balance of benefits and harm.

Stiko boss Mertens: pressure because of child vaccination is "absurd"

Stiko: No general booster recommendation for seniors

The Stiko is in favor of booster vaccinations in the corona pandemic - but initially only for certain people.

Age alone is therefore not a reason for a booster.

Stiko: No general booster recommendation for seniors

Influenza season started: call for influenza vaccination

The State Medical Association of Hesse (LÄKH), the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians Hesse (KVH) and the Frankfurt Health Office have called for annual vaccinations against influenza.

"It is important not to lose sight of the flu vaccination in the second Corona autumn," said the President of the LÄKH, Edgar Pinkowski, in a joint statement on Thursday.

Influenza season started: call for influenza vaccination

NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) again appealed to everyone who had not yet decided on any corona vaccination to give themselves a jolt.

For the elderly in particular, the following also applies: “Think about the flu vaccination too.” Both could be administered at the same time.

"Influenza can also be life-threatening for risk groups." Dpa