Implementation of the influenza vaccination recommendation in nursing homes in Germany : results of a survey as part of the national influenza immunization campaign

• Published in: Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz Vol. 57; no. 11; pp. 1315 - 1321
• Main Authors: Bödeker, B, Wichmann, O, Mertens, B, Seefeld, L, Pott, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Germany - epidemiology; Health Care Surveys; Health Promotion - utilization; Humans; Influenza Vaccines - therapeutic use; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Male; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Nurses - statistics & numerical data; Nursing Homes - statistics & numerical data; Practice Patterns, Nurses' - statistics & numerical data; Vaccination - utilization; Germany
• ISSN: 1437-1588
• DOI: 10.1007/s00103-014-2044-y

Residents and staff of nursing homes are important target groups for influenza vaccination in Germany. The aim of this study was to gain the first insights into whether nursing homes organize activities with respect to vaccination against influenza and whether there is a demand for further information. In the context of the national influenza immunization campaign-which is jointly carried out by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) on an annual basis-influenza information kits were sent to the management of 10,700 nursing homes in September 2013. Along with the information material, the institutions also received a questionnaire to which they were able to respond via mail, fax, or online. Data from 988 homes were included in the analysis. The majority of institutions informed both residents (88.9 %) and nursing staff (81.2 %) about influenza vaccination. However, only 64.7 % of nursing homes carried out specific immunization activities for their residents and only half (49.3 %) offered a flu shot to their staff. When asked why the institutions do not provide influenza-specific information and vaccination to their staff, the majority had the opinion that this is the responsibility of each individual's general practitioner. Overall, only 4.9 % of nursing homes assessed influenza vaccination coverage among their staff annually. A third of all surveyed institutions (33.6 %) expressed a demand for additional influenza vaccine-related information. In conclusion, improved health education is needed to raise awareness about the importance of influenza vaccination among residents and employees of nursing homes in Germany so as to prevent influenza-associated morbidity and mortality in this risk group.