title: [Analysis of vaccination data of patients aged 60 years and older from Bavaria and Thuringia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite annual updates of vaccination recommendations by the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute, diseases preventable by vaccination still cause a relevant burden of disease in the elderly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A comparison of the vaccination status of the elderly in Bavaria and Thuringia was carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical settlement data from the first quarter of 2007 to the second quarter of 2008 from the association of panel doctors in Bavaria and Thuringia for insured persons aged 60 years and above were analyzed concerning vaccinations, age, gender and multimorbidity. The vaccination rates for influenza were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of all recommended vaccinations in this age group was greater in Thuringia (eastern federal state) than in Bavaria (western federal state). In both states the administration rates of tetanus and diphtheria vaccines were lower in individuals with higher comorbidity and age. Protection rates against diphtheria were incomplete as a result of inadequate use of combination vaccines. In both states the administration of pneumococcal vaccine was higher in subjects with more comorbidities. In Bavaria administration rates increased with age. Influenza vaccination rates increased in association with age and comorbidity in both states. In elderly individuals influenza vaccination was used more often in the third quarter of 2007.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Old age and multimorbidity are often insufficiently taken into consideration in studies on vaccination rates. The data from this study confirmed the relevant findings from other studies and emphasize the deficient implementation of standard vaccinations in primary prevention. In this study very old patients were differentiated and considered according to age groups for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Geriatrie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kwetkat
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Statistik, Informatik und Dokumentation, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, 80336, München, Deutschland. joerg.schelling@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schelling
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000072758:Vaccination Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: Comorbidity; Elderly; Influenza; Vaccination; Vaccination rates