Vaccination calendar

and Florian Tiefenböck, doctor

Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for

STIKO vaccination recommendation: Which vaccinations should you have?

The STIKO of the Robert Koch Institute regularly works out vaccination recommendations. There are vaccinations that the experts recommend to everyone - at least a certain age group. These recommended immunizations are therefore also called standard vaccinations.

Vaccination recommendations for children

The experts recommend vaccinating as early as possible against some diseases. The basic immunization for the following diseases and pathogens therefore already takes place in infancy and toddler age:

diphtheria
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib; e.g. pathogen of epiglottitis)
Hepatitis B.
Whooping cough (pertussis)
Polio (polio, poliomyelitis)
measles
Meningococcal C (causing meningitis)
mumps
Pneumococci (e.g. pathogens causing pneumonia, otitis media or meningitis)
Rotavirus (diarrheal disease)
rubella
Tetanus (tetanus)
Chickenpox (varicella)

According to the vaccination recommendations, children between the ages of nine and 14 should be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV).

Vaccination recommendations for adults

Since adults have usually already had the above vaccinations, refreshments play a major role at this age. But there are also special "adult vaccinations". According to STIKO, the following vaccination recommendations apply to adults:

Shingles: For everyone over 60 years of age, for risk groups from 50 years of age
Influenza: Annual standard vaccination for adults over 60, also for all people at risk (e.g. chronically ill, pregnant women)
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR vaccination): For all adults born after 1970 who do not yet have (known) immune protection
Pneumococcal vaccination: for everyone over 60 years of age
Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (possibly polio): booster vaccinations

At what age and how often experts recommend vaccinations against these diseases, you can find out in the following sections of our vaccination calendar.

Vaccinations babies: 6 weeks

The first exciting weeks with the baby are over. Now there is a little challenge for the offspring: the first vaccinations are due. Babies are given their first immunization from the age of six weeks. The following vaccination calendar shows which vaccinations are due and when.

Rotaviruses

1. Basic immunization

Depending on the vaccine, 2 or 3 vaccine doses at least 4 weeks apart

Vaccinations babies: 2 months

Tetanus (tetanus)	1. Basic immunization
diphtheria	1. Basic immunization
Pertussis (whooping cough)	1. Basic immunization
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)	1. Basic immunization
Poliomyelitis (polio)	1. Basic immunization
Hepatitis B.	1. Basic immunization
Pneumococci	1. Basic immunization Premature babies: additional vaccination dose in the 3rd month (4 vaccinations in total)
Rotaviruses	2. Primary immunization

Vaccinations babies: 3 months

Tetanus (tetanus)	2. Primary vaccination (not applicable if a vaccine is used that is approved for the reduced 2 + 1 vaccination schedule) *
diphtheria	2. Primary vaccination (not applicable if a vaccine is used that is approved for the reduced 2 + 1 vaccination schedule) *
Pertussis (whooping cough)	2. Primary vaccination (not applicable if a vaccine is used that is approved for the reduced 2 + 1 vaccination schedule) *
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)	2. Primary immunization (Not applicable after using a single vaccine or a vaccine that is approved for the reduced 2 + 1 vaccination schedule) *
Poliomyelitis (polio)	2. Primary immunization (Not applicable after using a single vaccine or a vaccine that is approved for the reduced 2 + 1 vaccination schedule) *
Hepatitis B.	2. Primary immunization (Not applicable after using a single vaccine or a vaccine that is approved for the reduced 2 + 1 vaccination schedule) *
Rotaviruses	For some vaccines 3rd primary vaccination
* Premature babies (born <37 weeks of pregnancy) should always receive the vaccination in the third month of life according to the 3 + 1 vaccination scheme - regardless of the vaccine used!

Premature babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy always receive the six-fold vaccination in the third month, so a total of four times (3 + 1 vaccination schedule).

Vaccinations babies: 4 months

Tetanus (tetanus)	2nd / 3rd Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
diphtheria	2nd / 3rd Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Pertussis (whooping cough)	2nd / 3rd Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)	2nd / 3rd Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Poliomyelitis (polio)	2nd / 3rd Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Hepatitis B.	2nd / 3rd Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Pneumococci	2. Primary immunization
Rotaviruses	For some vaccines, 3rd basic vaccination

Vaccinations for toddlers: 11-14 months

Her baby has had her first vaccinations. The last basic vaccination for many diseases is on the agenda between the ages of 11 and 14 months. In addition, the toddler is immunized against four other diseases. The following vaccination calendar shows what these are.

Since June 2020, the STIKO has been recommending the reduced 2 + 1 vaccination scheme for the six-fold vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, Hib and hepatitis B! This provides for the last basic vaccination at the age of 11 months.

Tetanus (tetanus)	3rd / 4th Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
diphtheria	3rd / 4th Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Pertussis (whooping cough)	3rd / 4th Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)	3rd / 4th Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Poliomyelitis (polio)	3rd / 4th Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Hepatitis B.	3rd / 4th Basic immunization (depending on the chosen vaccination schedule)
Pneumococci	3. Primary immunization
Meningococcal C.	1. Basic immunization from the 12th month
measles	1.Basic immunization
Mumps, rubella	1. Basic immunization
Varicella (chickenpox)	1. Basic immunization

Vaccinations for toddlers: 15-23 months

Tetanus (tetanus)	Catch-up vaccination *
diphtheria	Catch-up vaccination *
Pertussis (whooping cough)	Catch-up vaccination *
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)	Catch-up vaccination *
Poliomyelitis (polio)	Catch-up vaccination *
Hepatitis B.	Catch-up vaccination *
Pneumococci	Catch-up vaccination *
Meningococcal C.	1. Basic immunization from the 12th month
measles	2. Primary immunization
Mumps, rubella	2. Primary immunization
Varicella (chickenpox)	2. Primary immunization
* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series

Vaccinations Infant: 2-4 years

Tetanus (tetanus)	Catch-up vaccination *
diphtheria	Catch-up vaccination *
Pertussis (whooping cough)	Catch-up vaccination *
Hib (Haemophilus infuenzae type b)	Catch-up vaccination *
Poliomyelitis (polio)	Catch-up vaccination *
Hepatitis B.	Catch-up vaccination *
Meningococcal C.	Catch-up vaccination *
measles	Catch-up vaccination *
Mumps, rubella	Catch-up vaccination *
Varicella (chickenpox)	Catch-up vaccination *
* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series

Vaccinations Children: 5 - 6 years

Tetanus (tetanus)	1. Booster vaccination
diphtheria	1. Booster vaccination
Pertussis (whooping cough)	1. Booster vaccination
Poliomyelitis (polio)	Catch-up vaccination *
Hepatitis B	Catch-up vaccination *
Meningococcal C.	Catch-up vaccination *
measles	Catch-up vaccination *
Mumps, rubella	Catch-up vaccination *
Varicella (chickenpox)	Catch-up vaccination *
* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series

Vaccinations Children: 9-14 years

Tetanus (tetanus)	2nd booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
diphtheria	2nd booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
Pertussis (whooping cough)	2nd booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
Poliomyelitis (polio)	1st booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
Hepatitis B.	Catch-up vaccination *
Meningococcal C.	Catch-up vaccination *
measles	Catch-up vaccination *
Mumps, rubella	Catch-up vaccination *
Varicella (chickenpox)	Catch-up vaccination *
HPV (boys / girls)	1st and 2nd basic immunization 2 vaccine doses at least 5 months apart (if the vaccination interval is too short, the third vaccination is required)
* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series

Vaccinations Adolescents: 15-16 years

Young people also have to be poked by the doctor from time to time: From the age of 15, booster vaccinations are mainly due to maintain vaccination protection. The following vaccination calendar shows what these are.

Tetanus (tetanus)	2nd booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
diphtheria	2nd booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
Pertussis (whooping cough)	2nd booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
Poliomyelitis (polio)	1st booster vaccination (possible up to the age of 16)
Hepatitis B.	Catch-up vaccination *
Meningococcal C.	Catch-up vaccination *
measles	Catch-up vaccination *
Rubella, mumps	Catch-up vaccination *
Varicella (chickenpox)	Catch-up vaccination *
HPV (boys / girls)	Catch-up vaccination For unvaccinated people: catch-up vaccination with 3 vaccination doses
* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series

Vaccinations Adolescents: 17 years

Tetanus (tetanus)	Catch-up vaccination *
diphtheria	Catch-up vaccination *
Pertussis (whooping cough)	Catch-up vaccination *
Poliomyelitis (polio)	Catch-up vaccination *
Hepatitis B.	Catch-up vaccination *
Meningococcal C.	Catch-up vaccination *
measles	Catch-up vaccination *
Mumps, rubella	Catch-up vaccination *
Varicella (chickenpox)	Catch-up vaccination *
HPV (boys / girls)	Catch-up vaccination For unvaccinated people: catch-up vaccination with 3 vaccination doses

* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series

Vaccinations Adults: from 18 years

Adults forget to look at the vaccination certificate. But even from the age of 18 there are some vaccinations. At this age, the main thing is to refresh and complete. The vaccination calendar below shows which vaccinations adults need.

Tetanus (tetanus)	Booster vaccination every 10 years ** if necessary catch-up vaccination
diphtheria	Booster vaccination every 10 years ** if necessary catch-up vaccination
Pertussis (whooping cough)	Booster vaccination every 10 years ** if necessary catch-up vaccination
Poliomyelitis (polio)	if necessary catch-up vaccination *
measles	Standard vaccination Single vaccination with a mumps / measles / rubella vaccine for all born after 1970> 18 years with an unclear vaccination status, without vaccination or with only one vaccination in childhood
* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series ** With the next vaccination due, once as a combination of tetanus / diphtheria / pertussis (Tdap) or in combination with poliomyelitis (Tdap-IPV)

Vaccinations Adults: from 60 years

Tetanus (tetanus)	Booster vaccination every 10 years ** if necessary catch-up vaccination
diphtheria	Booster vaccination every 10 years ** if necessary catch-up vaccination
Pertussis (whooping cough)	Booster vaccination every 10 years ** if necessary catch-up vaccination
Poliomyelitis (polio)	if necessary catch-up vaccination *
Pneumococci	Standard vaccination
Herpes zoster (shingles)	Standard vaccination
Influenza (flu)	Standard vaccination (annually)
* Basic or primary immunization of all unvaccinated persons or completion of incomplete vaccination series ** With the next vaccination due, once as a combination of tetanus / diphtheria / pertussis (Tdap) or in combination with poliomyelitis (Tdap-IPV)

Vaccination calendar for the chronically ill

The vaccination table, which vaccinations the Standing Vaccination Commission of the Robert Koch Institute (STIKO) recommends for chronically ill people, can be found here.

Vaccinations in special cases

For some groups of people, the STIKO recommends vaccinations outside of the vaccination calendar. The following table shows which vaccinations these are.

Influenza (flu)	All persons aged 60 and over, all pregnant women from the 2nd trimester (if the underlying disease is from the 1st trimester), people / children with an underlying disease (e.g. chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, HIV), residents of the elderly - and nursing homes, people who live in a household with high-risk patients, medical staff, people in facilities with a high level of public traffic, people in direct contact with poultry and wild birds
Hepatitis A	People with risky sexual behavior (men who have sex with men), people with frequent blood transmission (haemophilia, liver or kidney disease), drug users, people who work in the medical sector
TBE (tick vaccination)	People who are in a risk area, people in agriculture and forestry, people who work in medical laboratories
Herpes zoster (shingles)	All persons aged 60 and over, persons with immunodeficiency (e.g. HIV infection), rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchial asthma, chronic kidney failure or diabetes can oppose themselves from the age of 50 Get shingles vaccinated.
Travel vaccinations	It is advisable to get medical advice before going abroad. Resident doctors, tropical institutes and, in some cases, health authorities provide information about the necessary vaccinations. These are based on the travel destination.