Who should get a top-up Covid vaccination in Germany?

The German health ministry maintains an online infections portal where it posts the latest known data on infection rates around the country.

As of October 1st, it notes that the 7–day–incidence rate for laboratory–confirmed Covid–19 cases has increased in the past four weeks.

Confirmed infection rates remain low compared to the peaks that were seen between 2021 and 2023. But the number of actual cases is likely much higher, because people are not generally testing for Covid anymore.

The viral load of Covid in wastewater samples has also increased recently.

Meanwhile world health experts are monitoring a new variant which has recently become prevalent in Germany, as well as the UK, France and many countries around the world. Covid XFG – also called the "Frankenstein" or "stratus" variant – is a descendant of the Omicron variant and was first detected at the beginning of 2025.

Typical symptoms of the XFG strain are a sharp soar throat, hoarseness and a dry cough – in addition to the standard symptoms like fever, runny nose and aching limbs.

Looking ahead to the autumn and winter months, further waves seem likely.

But testing of the latest Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines has confirmed that they continue to improve immune response to the latest dominant variants, including XFG.

So who should consider getting a Covid booster shot? 

Who should get a booster vaccination in Germany?

According to the Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO), everyone aged 60 and above is advised to get a booster jab with the new vaccine. 

STIKO also recommends that residents in care facilities, people with underlying health conditions, healthcare workers, and relatives of high–risk patients get regular top–up vaccinations.

The booster vaccination should be repeated annually, preferably in autumn, according to health guidelines. 

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Does the new vaccine protect against the latest strains?

As the coronavirus is constantly changing, the vaccines also need to be regularly adapted.

The new vaccine from the manufacturer Biontech was developed for the currently still circulating Omicron variant JN.1, but is also intended to protect against its sub–variants that have emerged in the meantime (KP.1, KP.2, KP.3, also known as FLIRT variants, and now the XFG variant as well).

Who does not need a booster?

According to STIKO, basic immunisation is currently sufficient for all healthy people between the ages of 18 and 59. This means that they should have undergone at least three ‘immunological events’ – i.e. vaccination or infection. At least one of these events should be a vaccination.

Further booster jabs are not required for this group. But those interested in getting a vaccine can talk to their doctor about it. Additional vaccination for those in this group may not be covered by health insurance.

According to STIKO's latest advice, healthy children and young people also do not require a top-up Covid vaccination. This also applies to new-borns up to six months of age.

Babies from the age of six months and children and young people under the age of 18 who belong to a risk group due to an underlying illness should be vaccinated and have a booster regularly, according to the advice. 

What about flu vaccinations?

STIKO also recommends flu vaccination for the winter in Germany. In particular, people over the age of 60 and people with underlying illnesses, as well as residents of retirement and nursing homes and medical staff, should be vaccinated.

It is also advised that pregnant women and people who work in facilities with a lot of members of the public or have contact with risk groups should get vaccinated against the flu. 

Where can you get vaccinations in Germany?

All vaccines are usually available through your general practitioner or Hausarzt. You should schedule an appointment to ask for advice if you have any queries about Covid or flu vaccines. 

Since 2022, some pharmacies in Germany are also able to administer flu and Covid-19 vaccines. To do so pharmacies are required to have a separate area for giving the shots, as well as specially trained pharmacists.

If you aren't sure if your local pharmacy gives vaccines, you may want to call ahead and ask. Alternatively, you can find vaccination centres by searching "Impfung Covid-19" in apps like Doctolib.

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