SucheVaccination and personal protection against infections
Vaccinations for preventing infectious diseases are some of the most effective and cost-effective medical interventions available. In addition to personal inoculation, it is important to achieve collective vaccine protection (known as herd immunity) for the majority of vaccine-preventable infections in order to protect vulnerable population groups who cannot be vaccinated for various reasons. With this in mind, it is important to foster greater understanding about the use of vaccinations within the general population and to increase people’s willingness to get immunised. The German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) has set itself the goal of spreading awareness regarding basic immunisation of children and adolescents. This includes vaccines for seasonal influenza, COVID-19, polio, measles, and measles, mumps, and rubella. The website www.impfen-info.de is geared toward the general population and provides information about vaccine-preventable illnesses and measures for protection against them. The site also includes interactive online vaccination checks which allow users to receive a personalised vaccination recommendation with just a few clicks.
In addition to vaccines, supplemental hygiene measures are an important component of personal protection against infection. Appropriate hygiene measures can effectively prevent the spread of many pathogens. On the website www.infektionsschutz.de, the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) provides comprehensive information, tips, and videos on the topic of hygiene for the general public. The site includes information sheets for many infectious diseases. Offered in six languages, the information sheets explain disease characteristics, routes of contagion, and protective measures.
Influenza vaccine
Since 2006, the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) have pursued a joint strategy titled “Wir kommen der Grippe zuvor” (“Getting ahead of the flu”) aimed at increasing the rate of seasonal influenza immunisations. The goal of the associated measures is to increase the rate of vaccination against influenza in the at-risk groups identified by the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), namely a) people over 60 years of age, b) people with chronic illnesses, c) pregnant women, and d) medical personnel.
The flu (influenza) is not simply a cold. Rather, it is a serious illness. In particular for older people and those with pre-existing illnesses, influenza can pose a severe health hazard due to potential complications. Due to the various associated physiological changes, pregnant women are also at increased risk of contracting the flu and experiencing severe cases. Additionally, medical personnel in hospitals, care facilities, and doctors’ offices are more likely to be exposed to influenza viruses due to their frequent contact with patients and residents. At the same time, they may unwittingly pass on the virus to patients and residents for whom influenza may pose a substantial threat due to their already compromised overall state.
The annual influenza vaccine is the best way to prevent infection. Immunisation should take place ahead of the winter flu season, ideally already in October or November, and must be repeated every year. Material from the awareness campaign can be requested or downloaded via the online ordering system.
Personal protection against infection – hygiene
Since 2013, the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) has run the poster campaign “Wo waren Deine Hände heute?” (“Where have your hands been today?”) in public sanitation facilities at rest stops, restaurants, and cinemas in order to promote handwashing for personal protection against infection. The goal of this measure is to raise awareness in the general population regarding the prevention of infectious diseases through proper hygiene.
Frequent and proper handwashing as well as coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the crook of one’s elbow are important behavioural recommendations for protecting oneself as well as others, including particularly vulnerable persons such as infants and chronically ill people, from infection.
Many pathogens can be spread through touch. These include respiratory infections as well as diarrhoeal diseases, which can be spread as smear infections. If someone sneezes into their palm or if trace amounts of faeces remain on the hands, many viruses and bacteria can spread from person to person, from hand to hand. From the hands, the pathogens reach the eyes, nose or oral mucous membrane. From there they get into the body and can lead to an infection. Germs can also adhere to contaminated surfaces such as door handles and then be transferred to hands. Thorough and regular handwashing can reduce infection rates, for example for diarrhoeal diseases. Proper hand hygiene can also contribute to breaking chains of infection during outbreaks. Due to their developing immune system as well as their many social contacts and close physical proximity to other children, children and adolescents are particularly frequently affected by infectious diseases. Acute respiratory and gastro-intestinal infections are the most common illnesses among children and adolescents. Additionally, children and adolescents play a substantial role in the rapid spread of infections. Hygienic behaviour must be learned, meaning that it is important to teach children about hygiene as early as possible to ensure that corresponding measures become everyday routines.
Vaccinations and personal protection against infection
Vaccinations for preventing infectious diseases are some of the most effective and cost-effective medical interventions available. In addition to personal inoculation, it is important to achieve collective vaccine protection (known as herd immunity) for the majority of vaccine-preventable infections in order to protect vulnerable population groups who cannot be vaccinated for various reasons. With this in mind, it is important to foster greater understanding about the use of vaccinations within the general population and to increase people’s willingness to get immunised. The German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) has set itself the goal of spreading awareness regarding basic immunisation of children and adolescents. This includes vaccines for seasonal influenza, COVID-19, polio, measles, and measles, mumps, and rubella. The website www.impfen-info.de is geared toward the general population and provides information about vaccine-preventable illnesses and measures for protection against them. The site also includes interactive online vaccination checks which allow users to receive a personalised vaccination recommendation with just a few clicks.
In addition to vaccines, supplemental hygiene measures are an important component of personal protection against infection. Appropriate hygiene measures can effectively prevent the spread of many pathogens. On the website www.infektionsschutz.de, the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) provides comprehensive information, tips, and videos on the topic of hygiene for the general public. The site includes information sheets for many infectious diseases. Offered in six languages, the information sheets explain disease characteristics, routes of contagion, and protective measures.
Influenza vaccine
Since 2006, the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) have pursued a joint strategy titled “Wir kommen der Grippe zuvor” (“Getting ahead of the flu”) aimed at increasing the rate of seasonal influenza immunisations. The goal of the associated measures is to increase the rate of vaccination against influenza in the at-risk groups identified by the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), namely a) people over 60 years of age, b) people with chronic illnesses, c) pregnant women, and d) medical personnel.
The flu (influenza) is not simply a cold. Rather, it is a serious illness. In particular for older people and those with pre-existing illnesses, influenza can pose a severe health hazard due to potential complications. Due to the various associated physiological changes, pregnant women are also at increased risk of contracting the flu and experiencing severe cases. Additionally, medical personnel in hospitals, care facilities, and doctors’ offices are more likely to be exposed to influenza viruses due to their frequent contact with patients and residents. At the same time, they may unwittingly pass on the virus to patients and residents for whom influenza may pose a substantial threat due to their already compromised overall state.
The annual influenza vaccine is the best way to prevent infection. Immunisation should take place ahead of the winter flu season, ideally already in October or November, and must be repeated every year. Material from the awareness campaign can be requested or downloaded via the online ordering system.
Personal protection against infection – hygiene
Since 2013, the German Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) has run the poster campaign “Wo waren Deine Hände heute?” (“Where have your hands been today?”) in public sanitation facilities at rest stops, restaurants, and cinemas in order to promote handwashing for personal protection against infection. The goal of this measure is to raise awareness in the general population regarding the prevention of infectious diseases through proper hygiene.
Frequent and proper handwashing as well as coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the crook of one’s elbow are important behavioural recommendations for protecting oneself as well as others, including particularly vulnerable persons such as infants and chronically ill people, from infection.
Many pathogens can be spread through touch. These include respiratory infections as well as diarrhoeal diseases, which can be spread as smear infections. If someone sneezes into their palm or if trace amounts of faeces remain on the hands, many viruses and bacteria can spread from person to person, from hand to hand. From the hands, the pathogens reach the eyes, nose or oral mucous membrane. From there they get into the body and can lead to an infection. Germs can also adhere to contaminated surfaces such as door handles and then be transferred to hands. Thorough and regular handwashing can reduce infection rates, for example for diarrhoeal diseases. Proper hand hygiene can also contribute to breaking chains of infection during outbreaks. Due to their developing immune system as well as their many social contacts and close physical proximity to other children, children and adolescents are particularly frequently affected by infectious diseases. Acute respiratory and gastro-intestinal infections are the most common illnesses among children and adolescents. Additionally, children and adolescents play a substantial role in the rapid spread of infections. Hygienic behaviour must be learned, meaning that it is important to teach children about hygiene as early as possible to ensure that corresponding measures become everyday routines.
