What is a vaccination and why is it important for you?
Vaccinations protect you from dangerous diseases like measles, flu, or COVID-19. During a vaccination, you receive an injection containing small, harmless parts of pathogens. Your body learns to quickly recognize and fight the disease.
Sometimes you need to receive vaccinations multiple times or get regular booster shots to ensure full protection. This means you receive additional doses of the vaccine after the initial shot to ensure your body builds sufficient protection against the pathogens. Booster vaccinations are important because protection can wane over time. They ensure your body continues to fight the disease effectively.
Which vaccinations are particularly important?
There are vaccinations recommended for certain age groups or risk groups. Risk groups include people who have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill due to pre-existing conditions or their age.
Here are some vaccinations particularly recommended in Germany:
- Mumps, measles, rubella (MMR): These vaccinations are especially important for children, but adults should also get vaccinated if they haven’t already.
- Flu: In the vaccination record, it is listed as influenza. The flu vaccination is particularly recommended for older people, pregnant women, and people with certain illnesses. It should be renewed every year.
- COVID-19: In the vaccination record, it is listed as COVID-19. Vaccination against the coronavirus is recommended for everyone. Older people may need booster shots to ensure long-lasting protection. For COVID-19, these boosters are required annually.
- Tetanus (lockjaw): This vaccination protects against infections through wounds and is boosted every ten years.
- Pertussis (whooping cough): In the vaccination record, the vaccine is listed as “Pertussis”. This vaccination particularly protects young children and infants from severe coughing.
- HPV (human papillomavirus): This vaccination protects against certain types of cancer. It is recommended for girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 14.
- Hepatitis B: This vaccination protects against liver inflammation and is particularly important for travelers or people with chronic liver diseases.
- Pneumococcal: This vaccination protects against pneumonia and is primarily recommended for older people.
- Meningococcal: This vaccination protects against dangerous meningitis and is primarily recommended for young adults.
- Hepatitis A: This vaccination is recommended for travel to areas with poor hygiene.
- Travel vaccinations: When traveling to certain countries, additional vaccinations may be necessary (e.g., against typhoid or yellow fever).
Who covers the costs of vaccinations?
The statutory health insurance covers the costs of vaccinations listed in the vaccination schedule of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), such as those against flu, measles, and tetanus. You can find the current vaccination schedule for the current calendar year directly on the Robert Koch Institute website at RKI - Impfkalender. The Robert Koch Institute even provides the vaccination schedule in various languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian. You can find the vaccination schedules under RKI - Impfaufklärung in verschiedenen Sprachen - Impfkalender in 10 Sprachen
How do you know if you have received all the important vaccinations?
It is important to regularly check whether you have all the necessary vaccinations. This keeps you healthy and protected from diseases. The best way is to take your vaccination record with you to your general practitioner’s office. Your doctor can tell you if you still need vaccinations or if boosters are necessary. If you don’t have a vaccination record yet or have lost it, you can get one at your general practitioner’s office.
What is a vaccination record?
A vaccination record is a small yellow booklet in which all the vaccinations you have received are recorded. This record helps you keep track of your vaccinations. It is especially important if you need to prove that you have received certain vaccinations – for example, when traveling abroad or for certain jobs.
Your vaccination record includes:
- the name of the vaccine,
- the date of vaccination,
- the doctor who administered the vaccination.
It is important to always carry your vaccination record with you in case you need a vaccination or need to provide proof.
There is also a digital vaccination record where you can conveniently store your vaccinations on your phone. This way, you always have your vaccination record with you and never miss an important vaccination. The app is called “ImpfPassDE” and can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhone). You can find more information about the digital vaccination record at ImpfPassDE App - Ihre digitale Impfpass-App ist da!