German doctors urge flu shots for all over six months old
Intensive care specialists in Germany are pushing for broader flu vaccination rules. They want the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) to recommend jabs for everyone aged six months and older. The call comes after a severe flu season saw thousands of hospitalisations, including many children.
During the 2022-23 flu season, around 135,000 people in Germany were hospitalised with flu symptoms. Nearly 30,000 of them were under 18. The virus hit young patients hard, with about 500 requiring ventilation and 82 dying.
The debate over flu vaccination rules continues as STIKO assesses the latest figures. Intensive care specialists stress the need for wider protection, especially for children. For now, Germany’s vaccination policy remains focused on older adults and high-risk groups.
