Vaccination in the pharmacy: the key questions and answers

Vaccination in the pharmacy is safe, very well received by customers, and reaches people who would otherwise not get vaccinated. This FAQ sums up the key data for pharmacists who are planning a vaccination service of their own.

Safety of pharmacy vaccination

Is vaccination in the pharmacy safe?

Pharmacies vaccinate only with inactivated vaccines. These contain killed pathogens or parts of them, which cannot multiply and cannot cause the disease they protect against. In a study on flu vaccination in pharmacies, a reaction after the vaccination was recorded in only nine of 11,571 surveys (0.08%). The study was not designed to examine side effects, but in no case were emergency measures needed in the pharmacy.

What international experience is there with pharmacy vaccination?

Vaccination in pharmacies has long been established internationally. In France, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Poland, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for example, pharmacies have been vaccinating for a long time. According to the ABDA, pharmacists are allowed to vaccinate against flu (influenza) in pharmacies in around 40 countries worldwide.

Which vaccinations have German pharmacies given so far?

Since 2 July 2026, pharmacies may offer adults all vaccinations with inactivated vaccines. Until then, only flu and COVID-19 vaccinations were permitted in German pharmacies. The basis for this is the Apothekenversorgung-Weiterentwicklungsgesetz (ApoVWG), the law on the further development of pharmacy care. This includes, among others, vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis (FSME), tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, hepatitis A and B, pneumococci, RSV, shingles (herpes zoster) and meningococci B and ACWY. A prerequisite is vaccination training given by a physician. Live vaccines remain excluded.

Demand and vaccination gaps

How great is the need for additional vaccination services?

The need is great, because vaccination rates in Germany are too low. This shows most clearly in flu vaccination. For people aged 60 and over, the WHO aims for a rate of 75%, while in Germany it was only 34.5% in the 2024/25 reporting period, according to figures from the Robert Koch-Institut. Rates are low for other vaccinations too: in the reporting period I/2025, only 14% of 60- to 64-year-olds were vaccinated against pneumococci. In 2024, the latest reporting period available, 20% of people in risk areas were fully vaccinated against FSME, and in the 2024/25 reporting period only 13% of people aged 60 and over against COVID-19.

Why is the pharmacy a good place to vaccinate?

The pharmacy is a good place to vaccinate because it is close by and familiar. That is how the pharmacy reaches many people without major hurdles. Around three million people visit a pharmacy every day, which adds up to around 1 billion patient contacts a year. 64% of people in Germany visit their pharmacy at least once a month, and 92% trust their pharmacists (ABDA, Zahlen, Daten, Fakten 2025).

Does pharmacy vaccination reach new groups?

Yes, according to survey results, pharmacy vaccination also specifically reaches people who would otherwise not get vaccinated. In the pilot projects, 17% of those vaccinated said they would not have been vaccinated outside a pharmacy, and another 11.5% were unsure. Among people receiving their first flu vaccination, this share was as high as 27.6%, with another 34.5% unsure.

How satisfied are customers with vaccination in the pharmacy?

Satisfaction is very high. 88.5% were satisfied with the information, 93.8% with how the vaccination went. 93.9% want to repeat the vaccination in the pharmacy, and 79.7% would also take up other vaccinations there.

Economics and organisation of the vaccination service

Who pays for vaccination in the pharmacy?

The statutory health insurers pay for vaccinations under the Schutzimpfungs-Richtlinie, the directive listing which vaccinations they cover, as a statutory benefit, and the pharmacy’s fee is set by a contract under § 132e(1a) SGB V. As individual extras in their statutes (Satzungsleistungen), some insurers also cover vaccinations beyond the STIKO recommendations. The financial hurdle for insured people is meant to be as low as possible.

Vaccination record check and the future of the pharmacy

What is the vaccination record check in the pharmacy?

With the vaccination record check (Impfpass-Check), vaccination gaps in a patient can be spotted. The recommendation of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) states that every contact with a doctor should be used to check patients’ vaccination status carefully and complete it where necessary.

What are the advantages of vaccinating for the local pharmacy?

Vaccinating strengthens the pharmacy’s profile as a central point of contact for health care close to home. Especially in rural areas, where doctors’ practices are becoming scarcer, the pharmacy helps to keep care in place. Vaccinating also makes the pharmacy profession more attractive and helps to attract young professionals.