Flu vaccination

From early October to mid-May is flu season. A flu vaccination can protect you and others from infection and severe illness. Here you will find answers to all important questions about the flu vaccine.

A flu vaccination can protect you from getting the flu or help reduce the severity of the illness. Another advantage of vaccination is that the more people get vaccinated, the more effectively the spread of the flu can be contained.

You can also reduce your risk of infection by following simple hygiene practices: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands, and wash your hands regularly. Cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm, and keep your distance from people who are ill. Avoid handshakes and hugs. Wear a face mask, especially when you are surrounded by many people.

The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends an annual flu vaccination for the following groups of people:

Persons aged 60 and over, as well as persons aged 6 months and over who are chronically ill with one of the following indications, such as respiratory diseases (COPD or asthma), cardiovascular diseases, liver or kidney diseases, metabolic disorders such as diabetes, neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, immune deficiencies, HIV or obesity with a BMI of 30, etc.

Pregnant women, residents of nursing or care homes, and individuals who live with or care for high-risk persons and could endanger them are also advised to get vaccinated.

People with increased personal risk due to frequent, regular, and direct contact with pigs, poultry, wild birds, or seals are recommended by STIKO to receive an annual flu vaccination in autumn or winter using an inactivated influenza vaccine.

The vaccination is also recommended for professional reasons for individuals at increased occupational risk, such as healthcare workers, people working in settings with extensive public contact, or those who could serve as a potential source of infection for high-risk individuals they care for.

It is likewise recommended for people whose work involves frequent, regular, and direct contact with pigs, poultry, wild birds, or seals, as well as for travelers to regions where seasonal influenza is currently circulating.

For the 2025/2026 flu season, there is a wide range of flu vaccines available that differ in various aspects such as their characteristics, production methods, application, and approval. In Germany, several providers offer flu vaccinations.

Most commonly, inactivated flu vaccines—also known as “killed” vaccines—are available. These vaccines contain either inactivated viruses or inactivated components of viruses. Depending on the type and manufacturer, these vaccines may be approved for babies from 6 months of age, for children, pregnant women, or adults.

For people aged 60 and over, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends either a high-dose inactivated vaccine or an MF59-adjuvanted inactivated subunit influenza vaccine made from surface antigens. Both vaccines are designed to provide improved effectiveness in older adults.

A live attenuated nasal flu vaccine is approved for children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years. This vaccine is not used in people with weakened immune systems due to illness or treatment. There may be additional costs for this type of vaccination.

An inactivated influenza subunit vaccine made from surface antigens and produced using cell cultures without chicken eggs can be administered intramuscularly to individuals aged 6 months and older. Since most flu vaccines are produced by incubating chicken eggs, people with an egg protein allergy should consult a doctor before vaccination.

As there are other vaccines with specific characteristics not listed here, it is recommended that you seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before getting vaccinated.

In general, the seasonal influenza vaccine is well tolerated. Because the flu vaccination activates the immune system, mild symptoms may occur. Occasionally, symptoms similar to those of a common cold may appear. Irritability, muscle pain, fatigue, fever, chills, sweating, dizziness, tiredness, and headaches, as well as muscle or joint pain, can occur. Some people may also experience stomach or intestinal discomfort such as nausea or diarrhea after vaccination. These reactions usually subside within one to two days.

Local reactions such as mild pain, redness, bruising, itching, or swelling at the injection site may occur when an inactivated (killed) vaccine is used. When a live attenuated vaccine made from weakened influenza viruses is used, a blocked or runny nose may also occur. For more information on risks and possible side effects, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.

By default, the flu vaccination is intended for people aged 60 and over or those at increased risk, and the cost is covered for these groups. In addition, we fully reimburse the cost of the flu vaccination for all persons under 60 as part of the SBK additional benefits.

If the vaccination is offered at your workplace, we will also reimburse the costs in that case.

You can receive a flu vaccination at your general practitioner’s office. In most cases, the flu vaccine is already available at the practice, but it is best to check in advance whether the vaccine is in stock. Certain groups, such as parents visiting a pediatrician’s office, can also get vaccinated at gynecologists’ or pediatricians’ offices.

To make vaccination easy, quick, and convenient without long waiting times, we have arranged for vaccinations to be offered in pharmacies. Pharmacies that provide flu vaccinations can be found in the ApoGuide (in German only) of the State Chambers of Pharmacists.

If the vaccination is offered at your workplace, we will also reimburse the costs in that case.

You can find answers to the most important questions about flu vaccination in the following information provided by the Paul Ehrlich Institute:

Information on seasonal flu vaccines