Disparities in influenza vaccination coverage rates by target group in five European countries: Trends over seven consecutive seasons

Abstract

Background: The primary objective of this study was to measure influenza vaccination coverage rates in the general population, including children, and in high-risk groups of five European countries during the season 2007/2008. An additional aim was to analyze coverage trends over seven consecutive seasons and to gain an understanding of the primary drivers and barriers to immunization. Methods: Community-based telephone and mail surveys have been conducted in the UK,

Determinants of tetanus and seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in adults living in Germany

“…Despite an increase in tetanus and seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in German adults within the past ten years, 11,22 our results indicate that tetanus vaccination coverage in the general adult population and influenza vaccination coverage in the target population is still unsatisfactorily low in Germany. Measures such as offering low-threshold vaccination services, implementing reminder systems for clients (potential vaccinees) and providers (physicians), and target group-oriented education strategies have been shown to improve vaccine uptake, 33 especially when they are applied in combination, and should therefore be enhanced in Germany.…”

“…Data on vaccination coverage of children is systematically collected only at school entry when the children are between 5 and 6 y of age. 7 Information on vaccination coverage in adolescents and adults have mainly been available from a few smaller telephone surveys, [8][9][10][11] from health insurance companies 12 and household surveys (Microcensus 2003), 13 and are largely insufficient. With the implementation of the 'German Health Update' Survey (GEDA) in 2008/2009 as a part of the national health monitoring, a tool is now available in Germany for the detailed assessment of vaccination coverage in all age-groups above 18 y. GEDA is a large, population-representative telephone-survey.…”

Do the quality of the trials and the year of publication affect the efficacy of intervention to improve seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers?: Results of a systematic review

“…3 In Europe rarely exceeds 30% (Blank et al, 2009). 8 Rates are particularly low in nursing staff, the HCWs in closest contact with patients (Toronto et al, 2010, La Torre et al, 2011).…”

“…3 In Europe rarely exceeds 30% (Blank et al, 2009). 8 Rates are particularly low in nursing staff, the HCWs in closest contact with patients (Toronto et al, 2010, La Torre et al, 2011). 9,10 As alternative to mandatory approach, that poses many questions on HCW autonomy, several public health organizations and hospitals have embarked in the endeavor entailing the increase of seasonal influenza vaccination rate among HCW by setting up interventions.…”

Workplace Health Promotion

“…One explanation may relate to the rather small sample size which had only the power to detect "between group differences in vaccination rates of 22% (between the previous year's vaccination rate of 38% and a predicted rate of 60%)" (Payaprom, et al, 2011, p. 493) which is a fairly large effect in light of average vaccination rates, even for target groups, (Blank, Schwenkglenks, & Szucs, 2009;CDC, 2010;Robert-Koch-Institut, 2008). Moreover, the planning intervention addressed only "where, when and how they would obtain the vaccination" (Payaprom, et al, 2011, p. 494), whereas the planning items in the present study Further research is required to validate the current findings, to provide support for this study's recommendations, and to improve understanding of vaccination behavior and behavior change.…”