Overview
- The Robert Koch Institute reported on Thursday that only about 10% of children and adolescents with medical risk conditions in Germany were vaccinated against influenza and that under‑18s accounted for more than 30% of recorded influenza hospitalisations from 2015–2024.
- Members of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) have begun actively weighing whether to extend annual influenza advice from just high‑risk children to all healthy children and adolescents as a way to close protection gaps.
- A separate Lancet Regional Health – Europe analysis of WHO and UNICEF data through 2024 found stagnating or falling childhood vaccine coverage in many EU states, with 16 of 27 countries showing declines across at least four routine vaccines and widespread drops for Hib and polio in 20 countries.
- Researchers say the recent declines largely started between 2019 and 2022 and the study did not prove causes, though experts point to pandemic‑era service disruptions, access barriers, misinformation and weakened trust as likely contributors.
- Policy choices being discussed include expanding recommendations, offering vaccines in schools, pharmacies and hospitals, and targeted communication to rebuild confidence because persistent low coverage raises the real risk of local outbreaks and higher disease burden among children.