Thursday, January 29, 2026

Flu Wave Reaches Its Peak: Pharmacies Take on a Growing Role in Vaccination While Supply Remains Stable

The current flu wave in Germany is expected to reach its peak around the carnival season. This was stated by ABDA President Thomas Preis in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on January 27, 2026. This year, younger people who are not vaccinated are particularly affected. According to Preis, infection is not limited to major events – the virus also spreads through everyday contact.

With regard to vaccine availability, the ABDA President gave the all-clear. There are still remaining stocks of flu vaccines at wholesalers and pharmacies. Preis is confident that everyone who wants to be vaccinated will be able to receive one.

Since January 2023, pharmacies in Germany have been allowed to offer both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. This additional service is increasingly being used: during the current vaccination season, pharmacies have administered twice as many vaccinations as in the previous year. Preis sees this as a major opportunity to improve Germany’s still worryingly low vaccination rate. Comparable models in other European countries have already shown positive effects.

The supply situation for essential medicines also remains largely stable. Fever reducers, painkillers, and common cold remedies are sufficiently available. Only a small number of antibiotics for children are currently more difficult to obtain – however, therapeutic alternatives are available in these cases, Preis emphasized.

In this context, the ABDA President criticized the German Act to Combat Drug Supply Shortages and Improve Care (ALBVVG). The legislation has so far failed to address the structural causes of medicine shortages. More than 500 medicines are still affected by delivery disruptions. Although there are European initiatives aimed at relocating pharmaceutical production back to Europe, it will take time before these measures lead to sustainable improvements.