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Berlin – People with statutory health insurance aged 75 and over, as well as certain risk groups aged 60 and over, should be entitled to a one-time vaccination against infections with respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV). The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has today incorporated the relevant recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination at the Robert Koch Institute (STIKO) into the vaccination guidelines.

To protect against lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV, approved vaccines have been available for people aged 60 and over since last year.

Based on the STIKO recommendation, all statutory insured persons aged 75 and over, as well as insured persons with a significantly increased risk of developing a severe RSV disease aged 60 and over, will be entitled to the one-time RSV vaccination in the future.

According to the G-BA, such a risk exists in cases of serious underlying diseases (e.g. of the respiratory organs, kidneys or cardiovascular system) as well as in residents of care facilities.

Vaccination with a protein-based RSV vaccine should be carried out before the start of an RSV season if possible. This is currently a one-time vaccination, as the STIKO has not yet been able to make a statement on whether RSV repeat vaccinations are necessary based on the current data. The STIKO has also not yet made any recommendations on RSV vaccination for pregnant women.

According to STIKO, an evidence review is planned as soon as possible on the question of whether RSV vaccination can also be carried out with the recently approved mRNA vaccine. The G-BA would then discuss a further change to the vaccination guideline once a corresponding STIKO recommendation is available.

The G-BA also updated its vaccination guidelines regarding influenza vaccinations, which no longer refer to the mandatory use of quadrivalent vaccines.

In its recommendation published at the beginning of August 2024, the STIKO followed the World Health Organization (WHO), according to which triple vaccines should be used for the 2025/26 flu season if possible. If triple vaccines are not available, those with a quadruple combination can also be used. In this case, the STIKO recommends the use of an inactivated vaccine.

The decisions are expected to come into force at the beginning of October at the latest. © EB/aha/aerzteblatt.de