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STIKO Shifts Meningococcal Vaccination to Ages 12–14, Retires Toddler MenC Recommendation

Rollout now hinges on insurer coverage plus billing decisions.

Overview

  • Germany’s vaccine advisory body recommends a single MenACWY dose at ages 12–14 with catch‑up offered through age 25.
  • The former one‑time MenC shot in the second year of life is withdrawn due to a sustained decline in serogroup C cases.
  • The adolescent dose can be given as a combination vaccine and administered during the routine J1 youth health check.
  • Infant protection against MenB remains a standard schedule at 2, 4 and 12 months, with catch‑up advised up to the fifth birthday.
  • Officials cite herd protection from vaccinating a high‑carriage age group and a streamlined early‑life schedule to support uptake of higher‑burden vaccines such as pneumococcal, while practices await reimbursement arrangements before offering the new dose routinely.