To protect against life-threatening meningococcal infection, the STIKO has expanded its vaccination recommendation. What you need to know!
In the fight against a rare but life-threatening meningococcal infection, theConstant vaccination commission (STIKO) expanded their vaccination recommendations. In addition to the already standardized meningococcal c vaccination, babies and toddlers are to be vaccinated against meningococci B.
Since 2006, babies and toddlers aged around 12 months have been vaccinated against meningococci C on the recommendation of the STIKO. The costs for this are covered by all health insurance companies.
So far, parents have been able to ask for additional vaccinations against various meningococcal groups from their treating pediatrician, but had to have them carried out on their own.
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Meningococcal B vaccination is standard service
With the STIKO vaccination recommendation for meningococcal B vaccination, this also becomes a standard service that is a compulsory service for all statutory health insurance companies and has to be taken over.
A billing via the insurance card should be possible nationwide from August 2024. Until then, the reimbursement procedure applies. This means that the doctor issues a recipe for vaccination, the invoice will send the parents back to their statutory health insurance, which reimburses the amount.
Reading tip:
When is vaccinating against meningococci B and C?
In order to optimally achieve the protection of babies and toddlers, both against meningococcal B and C should be vaccinated as early as possible.
Meningococci B
From an age oftwo monthsthe first meningococcal b-vaccination by theStiko recommended. Further vaccinations against this meningococcal tribe take place at four and 12 months. Overall, a child receives three vaccinations against meningococci B.
Missed vaccinations should be made up for as soon as possible. This is possible until the fifth birthday. Small children, who only receive first vaccination against meningococcal B between 12 months and 23 months, receive a second vaccination two months later. And a third vaccination against meningococcal B 12 to 23 months after the second vaccination.
Children who are only vaccinated against meningococci B from the age of two receive a total of only two vaccine doses at a minimum distance of one month.
The STIKO recommends having meningococcal B vaccination carried out together with other recommended standard vaccinations.
Also read:
Meningococci C
Vaccination against meningococcal C is a one -off vaccination. It takes place at the beginning of the second year of life (shortly after the first birthday).
If the vaccination has been missed, it should be made up for as soon as possible. Up to the age of 18 (the 18th birthday), the meningococcal c vaccination can and should be made up for.
Why do children need meningococcal vaccinations?
Meningococcal infection is rare, but can be life-threatening within a very short time. The meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis) usually cause purulent inflammation of the meningitis, also known as meningitis. As a result, complications such as seizures or deafness can occur. In addition, the development of infected children can be disturbed.
The meningococcal bacteria less often trigger sepsis (blood poisoning or blood streak). The bacteria are distributed throughout the body. The consequence here: the blood clotting is disturbed. This allows limbs to die, which can make an amputation necessary. The result can also be a life -threatening circulatory shock.
Important NOTE:Working or uncertainties in vaccination are not uncommon and sometimes understandable. Many (child) diseases have become rare today.
Nevertheless, it should be a matter of course to have your child vaccinated - for his own protection, but also for the protection of other people. If you have any questions and uncertainties about the various vaccinations, ideally you turn to experts, your pediatrician or your pediatrician.
Sources:
RKI.de
meningitis-bewegt.de
