“The principle of voluntariness should apply”

What are the consequences of the pandemic and the protective measures for the immune protection of children?

The increased protective measures during the pandemic have prevented numerous infections that otherwise invade children in the first few years of life and also lead to illnesses. Two pathogens in which we have seen this particularly strongly are RSV and influenza. The relaxed protective measures then meant that we were hit by a particularly strong virus wave in autumn 2021, but not with regard to the influenza virus. So it is quite conceivable that children who might otherwise have had the flu in the last two years were now protected by the protective measures to such an extent that they did not get the disease and that at some point there would be a stronger flu epidemic.

In the data from Australia last year you could see that an RSV wave is probably looming here too. This year it is the flu numbers that are increasing there.

In fact, what is happening in the southern hemisphere six months earlier reflects quite well what will take place here. With regard to the use of influenza vaccines, we derive a lot from what is happening in the southern hemisphere. And it is quite conceivable that Australia is already casting the shadow again with regard to the influenza wave. But of course you can’t say for sure.

The STIKO recommends only vaccinating particularly vulnerable children against influenza, while the WHO recommends all children between the ages of six months and five years. How do you rate that?

As a rule, it must be of benefit to the individual child to be vaccinated. This is the case with seriously ill children, children with heart disease or other chronic diseases. Ultimately, the stress on the body would be so great that flu could cause serious damage or even life-threatening consequences. However, if the superiority of vaccination for children cannot be proven so clearly by scientific data, then STIKO leaves the decision to the parents.

Does it make sense to have your child vaccinated against influenza, even if they don’t have any previous health problems?

The STIKO recommendations are very well thought out. It is quite possible that a family member decides to have their child vaccinated for certain reasons. Or rather, make it less likely to catch the flu. One reason may be to want to spare children a serious illness. Another is that the child should not be excluded from social life, even if only during a two or three-week flu. And finally, family members who are particularly at risk could be in a direct care situation for the child and should be protected in the interest of the child. All of these could be key considerations for a family to vaccinate their child after all. But the principle of voluntariness should apply. Similar to the corona vaccination, one should not put pressure on the parents.

Is it true that the risk of transmission with influenza is higher than with Covid-19?

It was one of the central assumptions that were circulating at the beginning of the corona pandemic: that children are contagious in a similar way to influenza or are just as badly affected. That is why measures such as the long school closures were taken early on. It was only much later that it was noticed that, at least among the variants that came before Omikron, the risk of infection does not emanate so much from the children.