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Vaccination is considered one of the most important achievements of modern medicine and has saved millions of lives. As a result, the age-old fear of severe or fatal infectious diseases has largely been forgotten in society; however, the pandemic triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) shows how quickly this fear can return. Also, many people have reservations about medical measures, especially if they are directed against vague dangers. Paradoxically, the success of vaccinations jeopardizes the acceptance. To counteract this development, this article provides information on basic vaccination principles, legal frameworks and components of vaccines. It explains the most important categories, goals, core elements of vaccination programs and the most important recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination at the Robert Koch Institute (STIKO). It explains the current state of knowledge with respect to required resources, assessment of vaccine reactions, complication management and possible vaccine damage.