September 19, 2021 - Vaccinations against COVID-19 and, for example, influenza can now be carried out at the same time. The Standing Vaccination Commission has spoken out in favor of this and submitted a corresponding draft to update the COVID-19 vaccination recommendation in the commenting procedure. She also recommends a booster vaccination for people with immunodeficiency.

The draft recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) relates to all dead vaccines that can in future be administered simultaneously with a COVID-19 vaccination. Thereafter, there is no longer any need to maintain a minimum distance between the COVID-19 vaccination and the application of other dead vaccines.

Injection on different limbs

"Provided that there is an indication for vaccination against both influenza and COVID-19, the simultaneous administration of the two vaccines is possible," says the draft. The injection should usually be given on different limbs.

The STIKO points out that vaccination reactions could occur more frequently with simultaneous use than with separate administration. However, extensive experience with non-COVID-19 vaccines has shown that the immune response and side effect profile after simultaneous administration of different vaccines are generally the same as when used alone.

KBV welcomes the STIKO decision

The KBV welcomes the decision of the STIKO. "This streamlines the allocation of vaccination appointments in practices for patients who are to be vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19," emphasized the deputy chairman of the board, Dr. Stephan Hofmeister. These patients would not have to be called in a second time.

In its scientific justification, the STIKO points out the risk that the influenza could spread more strongly in the 2021/22 season. "Since the risk groups for severe courses of COVID-19 and influenza overlap, comprehensive influenza vaccination protection in all target groups defined by STIKO is essential in the coming months under these circumstances."

So far, the simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines has not been recommended by the STIKO, rather a minimum interval of 14 days should be observed. This recommendation was primarily a precautionary measure, as the STIKO emphasizes. With the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccines, which have been developed using new technologies, it should be possible to clearly identify possible side effects or vaccination complications and not be overshadowed by possible reactions to other vaccines administered at the same time.

In the meantime, extensive data are available on the safety and tolerability of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in Germany, so that it is no longer necessary to separate the two vaccinations for the exact differentiation of the vaccination reactions.

In the draft recommendation, the STIKO writes that there have not yet been any published results on the simultaneous use of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines approved in Germany. However, unpublished data from the UK showed "no increased reactogenicity with concomitant use".

STIKO: Booster vaccination for immunodeficiency

The Standing Vaccination Commission has also issued a recommendation to vaccinate people with immunodeficiency. This recommendation, too, first goes through the commenting procedure before it is published after a further discussion.  

Among other things, it provides that all persons with an immunodeficiency, for example cancer patients undergoing active chemotherapy or patients with chronic kidney failure, receive an additional vaccine dose of an mRNA vaccine as a booster six months after a COVID-19 basic vaccination (homologous or heterologous vaccination schedule) should be offered.

A general STIKO recommendation for booster vaccinations is still pending.