Overview
- The Ständige Impfkommission (Stiko) announced Thursday that it no longer recommends a Covid‑19 base immunization for healthy adults, ending the prior advice that adults should have at least three contacts with the virus by vaccination or infection.
- The Robert‑Koch‑Institut said serology and surveillance data show more than 95% of adults now have broad immunity from past infection or vaccination, which Stiko says typically protects healthy people against severe disease.
- Stiko kept its annual booster recommendation for vulnerable groups but raised the routine age threshold for that booster from 60 to 75 years and set the timing for shots in late summer or early autumn.
- Specific groups still urged to get yearly boosters include people with underlying medical conditions, residents and staff of care homes, and certain medical personnel such as those working in emergency rooms or intensive care units.
- The change reflects a move from broad population‑wide booster guidance to a targeted protection strategy based on current immunity levels and falling severe‑disease trends, and it leaves room for clinicians to advise boosters for individuals with special risks.