title: [Seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccination: coverage and attitude among private physicians in Germany].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners serve as important multipliers for seasonal influenza vaccination in risk groups such as elderly or chronically ill persons, for whom vaccination is recommended in Germany by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO). Moreover, physicians are a target group for influenza vaccination themselves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 1 590 telephone interviews were analysed. The study population comprised private physicians from 4 different disciplines (general and internal medicine, gynaecology, paediatrics). We assessed seasonal and pandemic vaccination coverage, attitudes and informational needs related to vaccination in general, and opinions about the pandemic situation 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the interviewed physicians, 61% stated that they have been vaccinated against seasonal influenza regularly. Main reasons for not/only occasionally having received a flu shot were: the belief that seasonal influenza vaccination is not necessary for them (78%) or having forgotten about the vaccination (28%). The interviewed physicians expressed a great demand for active information on STIKO recommendations and certain aspects of the seasonal influenza vaccination. There was a significant association between physicians' own influenza vaccination status and the provision of vaccination information materials, utilisation of a data management system for the vaccination of patients, and active vaccination reminders in the physicians' office. In 2009/10, almost 60% had received a pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccination. A major barrier to vaccine uptake was the mistrust in the safety of H1N1 vaccines (stated by 54% of non-vaccinees). Information for the public and physicians by the German public health authorities during the pandemic was rather critically appraised by the respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to other subgroups of health-care workers, among private physicians seasonal and pandemic vaccine uptake was rather high. The physicians' need for more information on vaccination topics can be met by intensified publishing and communication activities of STIKO and by using existing physician-information channels.
authors: Fachgebiet Impfprävention, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Böhmer
authors: Fachgebiet Impfprävention, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Walter
authors: Fachgebiet Impfprävention, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ehrhardt
authors: Fachgebiet Impfprävention, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Reiter
authors: Abteilung für Infektionsepidemiologie, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Krause
authors: Fachgebiet Impfprävention, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Wichmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines