title: [Low influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers. Time to take a different approach].
abstract: Despite decades of effort to encourage healthcare workers (HCWs) to be immunized against influenza, vaccination levels remain insufficient in Germany, with only one in five HCWs receiving the annual influenza vaccination. To prevent nosocomial influenza outbreaks and to ensure the protection of patients and HCWs, new approaches to increase vaccination rates are needed. The experience in the USA has shown that declination forms have increased vaccination coverage. One possible approach for Germany would be a combination of declination forms with the exclusive use of vaccinated staff in defined areas. This approach would respect a HCWs decision to refuse medical treatment, while at the same time protecting vulnerable patients. In addition, the influenza vaccination rates of HCWs should be collected in order to evaluate the implementation of vaccination policies. Similar to the setting of desired vaccination coverage for the chronically ill, a clearly defined vaccination goal should be established for HCWs.
authors.affiliation: Betriebsärztlicher Dienst, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland. Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicker
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Rabenau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McLennan
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines