IntroductionPersisting human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, especially with HPV high-risk types 16 or 18, are prerequisites for cervical precancer and cancer. At the end of 2006 a quadrivalent HPV-vaccine became available in Germany providing protection against the HPV-types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The primary vaccination series consists of 3 separate doses administered at 0, 2, and 6 mo. If an alternate vaccination schedule is necessary, the second dose should be administered at least one month after the first and the third at least 3 mo after the second dose. The primary vaccination series should be completed within a 1-y period, according to the German summary of product characteristics (SPC). In 2007, a bivalent vaccine was approved for immunisation against HPV-types 16 and 18. For this vaccine, the German SPC recommends a vaccination schedule of 0, 1, 6 mo. HPV vaccination is free of charge in Germany. In clinical trials, the HPV-vaccines demonstrated > 90% efficacy against HPV 16-and 18-related Purpose: since March 2007, the standing committee on Vaccination (sTIKO) recommends HpV vaccination for all 12-17 y-old females in Germany. In the absence of an immunization register, we aimed at assessing HpV-vaccination coverage and knowledge among students in Berlin, the largest city in Germany, to identify factors influencing HpV-vaccine uptake.Results: Between september and December 2010, 442 students completed the questionnaire (mean age 15.1; range 14-19). In total 281/442 (63.6%) students specified HpV correctly as a sexually transmitted infection. Of 238 participating girls, 161 (67.6%) provided their vaccination records. among these, 66 (41.0%) had received the recommended three HpVvaccine doses. Reasons for being HpV-unvaccinated were reported by 65 girls: Dissuasion from parents (40.2%), dissuasion from their physician (18.5%), and concerns about side-effects (30.8%) (multiple choices possible). The odds of being vaccinated increased with age [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.19, 95% confidence Interval (cI) 1.16, 4.15] and decreased with negative attitude toward vaccinations (OR = 0.33, 95% cI 0.13, 0.84).Methods: self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 10th grade school students in 14 participating schools in Berlin to assess socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, and statements on vaccinations. Vaccination records were reviewed. Multivariable statistical methods were applied to identify independent predictors for HpV-vaccine uptake among female participants.Conclusions: HpV-vaccine uptake was low among school girls in Berlin. Both, physicians and parents were influential regarding their HpV-vaccination decision even though personal perceptions played an important role as well. school programs could be beneficial to improve knowledge related to HpV and vaccines, and to offer low-barrier access to HpV vaccination.Human papillomavirus vaccine uptake, knowledge and attitude among 10th grade students in Berlin, Germany, 2010 In Germany, a structured program for the evaluation and assessment of the impact...
SUMMARYIn order to contain a measles outbreak in a German asylum-seekers' shelter, serological testing of all residents was performed, followed by selective vaccination of those with negative test results/ not tested. In this paper we describe the outbreak epidemiologically and then compare the implemented strategy with a hypothetical mass vaccination of all individuals unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status born after 1970 as recommended by the German Standing Committee on Vaccination in terms of potentially avoided cases, logistics, and costs. Three hundred (70 %) residents participated in the serological testing, of which 39 (13 %) were seronegative. In total, 144 individuals were eligible for vaccination, while a mass vaccination would have targeted 359 persons. However, serological testing was time-and personnel consuming and revealed several logistical problems. Its costs amounted to E90 000, double that of mass vaccination that additionally might have avoided three of the eight cases. Mass vaccination seems the preferred measure for measles outbreak control in such settings.
During the 2009 influenza pandemic, a monovalent AS03-adjuvanted vaccine was almost exclusively used in Germany for immunisation against the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus. One-dose vaccination was recommended for all age groups. We applied the screening method for the rapid assessment of vaccine effectiveness (VE) based on reported data of vaccinated and unvaccinated pandemic influenza cases and vaccination coverage estimates. Preliminary results demonstrate excellent VE in persons aged 14-59 years (96.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 95.2-97.9) and moderately high VE in those 60 years or older (83.3%; 95% CI: 71.0-90.5).
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