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Vaccinations for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Refugees and asylum seekers should get vaccinated based on recommendations from the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO). Since their vaccination history is often unclear, STIKO suggests they get vaccinated soon after arriving in Germany. The vaccinations depend on their age and include:
- DTaP: Protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.
- IPV: Protects against polio.
- Hib: Protects against meningitis (brain inflammation).
- HBV: Protects against hepatitis B.
- MMR: Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
- Tdap-IPV: A booster shot for tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, and polio.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), together with STIKO and German states, has created a plan to make sure these vaccinations happen during the first medical check-ups.
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Vaccination Calendar in Different Languages
Why Get Vaccinated?The RKI website offers vaccination calendars in many languages. These show which vaccines a person needs at different ages. You can use them to check if you or your family have the right vaccinations. If you’re unsure, talk to your doctor.
Vaccinations are one of the best and cheapest ways to prevent contagious diseases. They save millions of lives worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) says vaccines have saved about 154 million children in the last 50 years. A big success was wiping out smallpox in 1980.
Vaccinations protect you from serious diseases and their complications. They also stop diseases from spreading in the community, which helps protect people who can’t get vaccinated, like babies or those with weak immune systems. High vaccination rates mean fewer doctor visits and less need for antibiotics, which helps prevent antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Vaccines are very safe, and side effects are rare. The goal is to protect people from dangerous diseases that can cause paralysis, organ damage, or even death. If many people get vaccinated, some diseases can disappear from a region or even the world. For example, polio has been eliminated in Europe, and there are efforts to wipe out measles and polio globally.
Vaccination Timing
- Live vaccines (like MMR or chickenpox vaccines, which use weakened viruses or bacteria) can be given together. If not given at the same time, wait at least 4 weeks between them.
- Non-live vaccines (without live viruses or bacteria) don’t need a waiting period, even with live vaccines.
- If you have a reaction to a vaccine (like fever or swelling), wait until it’s gone before getting another shot.
- Don’t get vaccine too close together, as this can affect how well they work. Waiting longer than recommended is okay, but it may delay full protection.
Vaccinating babies early protects them from dangerous diseases. Modern vaccines are very safe for babies and cause few side effects. Vaccines contain tiny amounts of substances like mercury or aluminium to make them work better. These are carefully tested and safe, but research is working on vaccines without these substances. Some kids may have rare allergic reactions, but there’s no evidence vaccines cause allergies later in life. Babies’ immune systems are challenged daily by their environment, and vaccines train their bodies to fight diseases safely.
Myths About Vaccinations
There are many false stories about vaccines that make some people avoid them, even though vaccines protect you and others. The RKI website provides clear information in German to correct these myths. RKI