"The European vaccination strategy is a milestone in the fight against the pandemic. Together, we have protected millions of lives and shown that European solidarity works. During European Immunization Week, we are reaffirming our commitment to continue to drive health, research and innovation in Europe in the future," said Wechsler.
High measles vaccination rate also protects people who cannot be vaccinated
Dr. Uschi Traub, Head of Health Promotion at the district's health department, underlined the importance of the European vaccination strategy: "Vaccinations can not only protect individuals from serious diseases, but also offer protection for fellow human beings. For example, the transmission of measles in the population can be permanently interrupted if at least 95 percent of people are immune to measles. This can also protect people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons."
With regard to vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the Ludwigsburg district, it is clear that vaccination rates for both girls and boys have fallen by around 5 and 3 percent respectively from 2022 to 2023. In the case of polio, many children are not vaccinated in line with their age - only 77% are vaccinated by the age of 24 months. Jutta Grolik, herself affected by polio, warns: "Don't forget diseases that are almost eradicated. These diseases can flare up again at any time and cause a lot of suffering - in the case of polio, for example, paralysis, deformities and even respiratory failure."
Germany does not compare favorably with other European countries when it comes to vaccinations
Vaccinations can permanently eradicate some diseases - such as smallpox worldwide. At the same time, vaccinations have considerable economic benefits. High vaccination rates also help to prevent epidemics and pandemics or contain them more quickly.
Germany does not compare well with other European countries when it comes to many vaccinations: the vaccination rates for most vaccinations recommended by the STIKO (Standing Committee on Vaccination) for adults are well below 50 percent. For example, less than 20 percent of adult patients at risk are vaccinated against influenza or pneumococcus, and less than 20 percent of pregnant women are vaccinated against influenza. At 43%, the target set by the EU Commission and the World Health Assembly of achieving an influenza vaccination rate of at least 75% among senior citizens has also been missed by a wide margin.
Anyone with questions about vaccinations and vaccination recommendations should contact a doctor or the health department of the district administration.
The European Vaccination Week has been taking place since 2005 and aims to raise awareness of the importance of vaccinations under the motto "Prevent - Protect - Immunize".
Background information:
Regional data at city and district level on vaccination rates from school enrolment examinations can be found in the BW Health Atlas.
The VacMap vaccination rates can be found at the following link: https://public.data.rki.de/t/public/views/VacMap/StartdashboardNavigation?%3Aembed=y&%3Atabs=n
STIKO vaccination calendar with the recommended standard vaccinations: https://www.rki.de/DE/Themen/Infektionskrankheiten/Impfen/Staendige-Impfkommission/Empfehlungen-der-STIKO/Empfehlungen/Impfkalender.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=6
The website www.impfen-info.de of the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) provides a good overview of information on the subject of vaccination
