Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for the following groups:

A) Persons with an elevated risk of flu complications (compulsory health insurance will cover the costs of the vaccination for this group, provided the deductible has already been met), i.e.:

• persons over 65 years of age;
• persons (over 6 months of age) with one of the following chronic conditions: heart disease; pulmonary disease (e.g. bronchial asthma); metabolic disorders affecting heart, pulmonary or kidney function (e.g. diabetes or obesity [BMI ≥ 40]); neurological (e.g. Parkinson, cerebrovascular disease) or musculoskeletal conditions affecting heart, pulmonary or kidney function; liver disease; renal insufficiency; absent or dysfunctional spleen (including haemoglobinopathy); immune deficiency (e.g. HIV, cancer)
• pregnant women from the 2nd trimester on and women who have delivered within the previous 4 weeks
• preterm babies (born before the 33rd week or with a birth weight below 1,500 g) over 6 months of age for the first two winters after birth
• patients in nursing homes or institutions for the chronically ill

B) Persons who, in their family or through their personal or professional activities*, are in regular contact with:

• persons of category A)
• infants under 6 months of age (whose risk of complications is elevated and who cannot be vaccinated due to their young age)

Vaccination is further recommended specifically for all medical and health-care personnel, all persons working in the paramedical field, employees of nurseries and day-care centres as well as old-age and nursing homes, including students and trainees.

C) Persons who are in professional contact with poultry, wild birds or pigs (to minimise the risk of developing a new virus through reassortment):

Influenza vaccination may also be considered for all persons wishing, for personal or professional reasons, to decrease their risk of contracting the flu.

* In the workplace, the employer often will cover the cost of vaccination.