New vaccination recommendations Infants need less pneumococcal injection

Pneumococci: New vaccination recommendations also for infants
The Standing Vaccination Commission has published its current vaccination recommendations. Changes include pneumococcal vaccination for infants and toddlers. You now need a bit less. Also in the immunization against other diseases, the recommendations were partially changed.

One less syringe for infants
The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has published its current vaccination recommendations in the "Epidemiological Bulletin". Accordingly, pneumococci only need to be vaccinated twice a day, plus a refresher, in infancy and early childhood. According to the modified vaccination schedule, the first dose should be given at the age of two months, another at the age of four months and a booster dose at the age of eleven to fourteen months. The last dose is crucial for the maintenance of individual vaccine protection and herd protection. The so-called "2 + 1 scheme" has the advantage that infants need less vaccination at the age of three months. The vaccinations must be made at the recommended age.

The STIKO has adapted its vaccination recommendations. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com)

Protection against dangerous infections
For premature babies (born before the 37th week of pregnancy), however, the current four-dose vaccine regimen ("3 + 1 regimen") continues at the age of three months. Background are new data, which show an effectiveness of the shortened scheme in premature babies, but not in premature babies. Pneumococci are pathogens that cause infections such as sinusitis or otitis media in many cases. However, potentially life-threatening diseases such as meningitis and pneumonia as well as blood poisoning can also be caused by these bacteria.

No refreshing yellow fever vaccine
Also for yellow fever vaccination, there are now new findings. Several studies in recent years have pointed to a lifelong vaccination after a single yellow fever vaccine. The STIKO no longer recommends a booster vaccine due to changes in the International Health Regulations (IHR). Although experts have warned against exotic pathogens in Germany in recent years, so far in this country only yellow fever cases were reported in which the patients infected while traveling. In 1999, the RKI reported a deadly case. An unvaccinated man died of yellow fever after traveling to the Republic of Ivory Coast. It should be borne in mind that some countries still require proof of refresher on entry if the vaccination is more than 10 years old.

Individual risk assessment
There were also changes in the meningococcal B vaccine. With Bexsero, a vaccine against fatal meningitis has been available in Germany since December 2013. However, the STIKO does not consider the study results sufficient to provide a general vaccination recommendation. However, in the future, the Commission recommends vaccination against meningococci B for persons with specific underlying diseases. The decision on a possible vaccination should be made on the basis of individual risk assessment. Type B meningococci can cause severe meningitis, often accompanied by high fever, headache, dizziness, chills, and photosensitivity. And the recommendation for the administration of chickenpox immunoglobulins was also revised by the experts. Here also premature babies should be vaccinated with contact to the pathogen. In addition, the STIKO extended the application period up to ten days after contact with the pathogen. (Ad)