Influenza is a serious illness against which flu vaccination provides effective protection. As production is planned based on demand and influenza vaccines take several months to produce, it is crucial that influenza vaccine orders are completed by the end of March each year. The number of vaccine doses that have been pre-ordered so far deviate significantly from estimated demand, which could potentially lead to restrictions on vaccine availability. The deviation applies to both the standard and especially the high-dose or MF-59 adjuvanted flu vaccines recommended for people aged 60 and over. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut therefore reminds all doctors and pharmacists to place their orders before 31 March 2025 in order to ensure an adequate supply of flu vaccines for the coming season.
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It is important that enough vaccines are available during the flu season so that every person who wishes to be vaccinated in Germany is given the opportunity to do so. Since the flu vaccine is manufactured using a complex process that takes several months, a sufficient supply for the population can only be guaranteed if enough vaccines are pre-ordered in a timely manner.
The vaccination recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Ständige Impfkommission, STIKO) help provide guidance for pre-ordering flu vaccines. The age and individual risks for persons to be vaccinated are included in the STIKO recommendations. These recommendations are reaffirmed by the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss, G-BA), which lays out the details of the reimbursement obligations of statutory health insurance providers (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) in the Preventive Vaccination Directive. According to a STIKO recommendation updated in October 2024, in the 2025/2026 influenza season persons over the age of 60 should receive a high-dose or MF-59 adjuvanted influenza vaccine that contains the current WHO-recommended antigen combination.
Orders for flu vaccines should be completed by the end of March. Then the production of the vaccines begins, which takes about four to five months, followed by the approval of the master adjustment. After successful batch testing and approval by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the gradual delivery of vaccine batches begins in mid-August. Reorders cannot be accommodated due to the lengthy manufacturing process. No additional production takes place during the year. It should be noted that no additional quotas will be available for late orders due to global demand.
The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut therefore appeals to all doctors and pharmacists to place orders for the flu vaccine according to their planned needs by 31 March 2025 at the latest to ensure the supply of flu vaccines in Germany in the 2025/2026 season.
Updated: 18.03.2025
