title: Influenza vaccination coverage in the 2004/05, 2005/06, and 2006/07 seasons: a secondary data analysis based on billing data of the German associations of statutory health insurance physicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The German Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends annual vaccination for persons in high-risk groups in order to lower the disease burden associated with seasonal influenza. The stated target is 75% vaccination coverage of people over age 60 by the year 2010. We present statistics based on billing data of the German associations of statutory health insurance physicians regarding vaccination coverage for influenza in the three seasons from 2004/05 to 2006/07.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed anonymous data from 14 of the 17 associations of statutory health insurance physicians in Germany. The study population consisted of all persons covered by statutory health insurance in the geographical areas under study (61.5 million persons, or 86% of the total population of these areas). Vaccination coverage was calculated as the number of vaccinated persons divided by the number of persons covered by statutory health insurance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The influenza vaccination coverage of the overall study population was 19% in 2004/05, 22% in 2005/06, and 21% in 2006/07. The coverage of persons over age 60 was 45% in 2004/05, 50% in 2005/06, and 49% in 2006/07 and was higher in areas that were formerly part of East Germany than in the rest of the country. More than a third of all vaccinated persons were vaccinated in all three seasons, as were almost half of the vaccinated persons over age 60.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no secular increase in influenza vaccination coverage over the period 2005/06 to 2006/07. The stated target of 75% vaccination coverage for persons over age 60 by the year 2010 would thus seem to represent a major challenge for all persons involved. The analysis of data of the associations of statutory health insurance physicians enables continuous monitoring of influenza vaccination coverage.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Infektionsepidemiologie, Robert Koch-Institut, DGZ-Ring 1, 13086 Berlin, Germany. reussa@rki.de
authors.forename: Annicka M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reuss
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feig
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappelmayer
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eckmanns
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poggensee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines