https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4034-3254
Abstract
Objective
The aims of the current analysis were to evaluate the vaccination status and attitudes towards vaccinations of elderly patients and to explore effects of a vaccination campaign.
Methods
The data were raised in primary care settings by a physicians network which collected data during routine care from 697 patients and by the analysis of health insurance claims data from the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Schleswig-Holstein (KVSH/Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany), regarding vaccinations in the participating practices before and after a vaccination campaign.
Results
Vaccination documentation for tetanus (57.7%), diphtheria (55.7%) and influenza (55.8%) was available for slightly more than half of the study sample. A lower documentation rate was observed for pertussis (33.1%), pneumococcal vaccination (30.3%) and polio (26.3%). Practice assistants were more responsible for determining the vaccination status than physicians. The attitude regarding influenza and pneumococcal vaccine was positive in 72.9% and 56.9% of patients respectively. After the campaign, rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccine utilization increased by 13.4% and 62.9%, respectively.
Conclusions
Attitudes regarding vaccination were generally positive. Documentation was missing for almost half of the elderly population. The delegation of vaccine management to practice assistants could increase the immunization rate. Moreover, it can be assumed that a campaign might be helpful in increasing vaccination awareness and vaccine coverage.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Thomas Frohberg from KVSH for providing the health insurance claims data and the Native speakers Andrea Strathausen and Michael Bauer for reviewing the manuscript.
The study was funded by Ärztegenossenschaft Nord eG.
Abbreviations
DEGS1, German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults; GP, General Practitioner; GVAP, Global Vaccine Action Plan; KV, Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians; SH, Schleswig-Holstein; STIKO, Standing Committee on Vaccination; Tdap, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis; WHO, World Health Organization.
Author contributions
All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper, gave final approval of the version to be published and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
SCG was an employee of HANN GmbH. JS reports grants from Ärztegenossenschaft Nord eG, during the conduct of the study. SCG reports that Ärztegenossenschaft Nord eG received payment from Pfizer Deutschland for their services, to plan and carry out vaccination studies. Pfizer didn’t have any access to study design, data monitoring, statistical analysis and manuscript preparation. KG reports grants from Ärztegenossenschaft Nord eG during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.