Lauterbach warns: Diphtheria case in Berlin – parents must act!

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, together with the pediatricians' association BVKJ, called on parents to have their children vaccinated against diphtheria. This appeal follows the tragic death of a ten-year-old boy in Berlin who was apparently not vaccinated and was treated in hospital for weeks. Lauterbach described it as “negligent” not to take the vaccination as it could have potentially fatal consequences. BVKJ President Michael Hubmann emphasized the responsibility of parents and called for them to check their children's vaccination status.

Lauterbach explained that the vaccination does not rule out infection, but offers reliable protection against symptoms. He also made it clear that surviving diphtheria does not guarantee long-lasting immunity. Diphtheria is a bacterial infectious disease that causes symptoms such as fever, sore throat and wheezing, among other symptoms. The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) already recommends vaccination for infants, children, adolescents and adults. After the basic childhood immunization, a booster is required every ten years.

Current developments

Deaths from diphtheria are rare in Germany; One death was reported in 2023 and 2024. The introduction of the vaccine in 1913 led to a drastic decline in infections. In 2024, 51 confirmed cases of diphtheria were recorded, while two cases had already been reported by this point in 2025. Particularly alarming is the fact that diphtheria was considered the “strangling angel of children” at the beginning of the 20th century, with over 50,000 people, mostly children, dying of this disease in 1892.

In Berlin, the ten-year-old boy died of diphtheria after intensive medical treatment was unsuccessful. The Brandenburg Ministry of Health confirmed that the child was not vaccinated. The six-fold vaccination, which also includes diphtheria, is considered the standard vaccination for babies in Germany. These children receive three doses of primary vaccination at the ages of two, four and eleven months, followed by a booster vaccination at five to six years of age and another between nine and seventeen years of age. Adults should have their vaccinations refreshed every ten years.

Society's perception of diphtheria has changed significantly since vaccinations were introduced. Many people, including pediatricians like Benedikt Brixius, rarely experience cases of this disease in their professional activities, which can lead to a possible underestimation of the disease. Despite the generally high vaccination rate - according to the RKI, at least 92 percent of children are vaccinated at the time of the school entrance examination - there has been an increase in cases of illness over the last ten years. In 2022, a new high of 177 illnesses was reached. In 2024, 51 confirmed cases were reported.

Germany was also affected by an international outbreak of imported diphtheria in 2022, particularly among refugees. Illnesses were registered in 13 federal states, although Saarland was not affected. Many of the affected people were probably infected while fleeing along the Balkan route. Upon arrival in Germany, refugees with unclear vaccination status immediately receive basic immunization. As a rule, migrants show a high willingness to be vaccinated and often express their gratitude for the available vaccination offers.