Updates:

Vaccinations for Fall and Winter

COVID-19: We recommend an annual COVID-19 booster for everyone aged 60 and older, as well as for people with chronic conditions or increased risk. Younger adults should maintain basic immunity with at least three antigen contacts. Please feel free to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination in my office at any time.

Influenza: We recommend an annual flu shot with the updated vaccine for everyone aged 60 and older, as well as for people with chronic conditions, pregnant women, and those with increased occupational or health risks. For younger adults, vaccination can also be useful and is usually covered by health insurance. Please feel free to schedule a flu vaccination in my office at any time.

RSV: The respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) can cause life-threatening respiratory diseases in infants and pre-existing elderly people. Since this year, two excellent vaccines have been available and we have them in stock. Pregnant women and all patients over the age of 60 are cordially invited to contact us about the RSV vaccination. (https://www.rki.de/SharedDocs/FAQs/DE/Impfen/RSV/FAQ_Liste_RSV.html)

Shingles: Shingles is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in adults who had chickenpox during childhood. It can lead to painful and prolonged nerve inflammation, especially in patients over 60. The vaccine offers reliable protection and can be administered at short notice in our office.

A brief note on the topic of dementia prevention through shingles vaccination:

A large retrospective study involving over 280,000 participants, in which Heidelberg University Hospital was also involved, shows that individuals vaccinated against shingles had approximately a 20% lower risk of developing dementia over a seven-year period. The data comes from the Welsh healthcare system and is considered particularly reliable due to its completeness and high quality. However, it is important to note that this is observational data – a direct causal relationship has not yet been definitively established.

Given the extremely low risk of complications, the highly reliable protection against severe cases of shingles, and now the likely reduction in the risk of developing dementia, I strongly recommend this vaccination for all individuals aged 60 and over – and from age 18 in the presence of certain underlying conditions.

For more accessible and detailed information, please refer to the press release from Heidelberg University Hospital. (https://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/newsroom/epidemiologische-studie-zeigt-impfung-gegen-guertelrose-koennte-das-risiko-an-demenz-zu-erkranken-senken–vor-allem-bei-frauen/#)