Influenza vaccination of hospital staff in Germany: a five-year survey on vaccination coverage and policies: identified deficits in influenza immunisation campaigns for hospital employees.
OBJECTIVE
Influenza vaccination of hospital staff is recommended by STIKO, the German committee for vaccination. A survey was conducted to assess compliance with this recommendation. The occupational health services of 25 hospitals participated in a survey and provided data by questionnaire on influenza vaccination and on hospital policies to promote coverage of employees.


METHODS
Vaccination activities were monitored by occupational health services (OHS) for five consecutive years from 1997 to 2002. The hospital sample covered a total of 17,089 beds (3.23% of the hospital capacity in Germany) and a total number of 41,969 employees (4.39% of hospital staff).


RESULTS
The proportion of hospitals actively offering influenza vaccination increased from 48 % in 1997/98 to 92% in 2001/02. Vaccination coverage of all staff in 1997 was only 3.3% and reached 8.4% in 2001/02. Coverage of vaccinating hospitals increased from 5.0% to 10.4%. Poster campaigns and managing board commitment had significant impact.


CONCLUSIONS
Considerable progress has been made to involve more hospitals and to increase coverage for vaccination of hospital employees. Nevertheless, coverage levels remain unacceptably low. Recommendations are ignored extensively.
Hallauer
Johannes F
JF
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte, Gesundheitssystemforschung Berlin, Germany. johannes.hallauer@charite.de
Neuschaefer-Rube
Nils
N
D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D018401:Sample Size; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000639:trends*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines