[Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in adults]

Seasonal influenza causes yearly increased morbidity and mortality especially in older adults and patients with a comorbidity. Vaccination coverage in Germany reaches 60 % in the age group of persons over 60 years, but fails to reach the WHO target of 75 %. Improved immunogenicity of vaccines is necessary because of the occurrence of immunosenescence. This can be achieved by improved adjuvants or by new routes of application like the intradermal vaccination which produces higher antibody levels. Invasive pneumococcal infections cause up to 10000 deaths in Germany every year. The polysaccharide vaccine prevents 60 - 80 % of invasive bacteremic pneumococcal infections and reduces the mortality and severity of invasive courses. Only 20 % of the target group is vaccinated: German physicians should stress the need for pneumococcal vaccination.