Trends in age-specific varicella incidences following the introduction of the general recommendation for varicella immunization in Germany, 2006-2022.

Background: In Germany, general childhood varicella vaccination has been recommended since 2004. A feared effect of low vaccination coverage is a possible shift in incidence from children to teenagers and young adults who are at higher risk of severe outcomes. If true, this shift would possibly necessitate changes to the national immunization strategy.

[Evaluation of the COVID-19 vaccination after broad implementation-an interim conclusion for Germany in July 2022].

Vaccines against COVID-19 have been available in Germany since December 2020. At the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the Immunization Unit is responsible for monitoring vaccination coverage and assessment of vaccine effectiveness. This article provides an overview of the respective reporting structures, vaccination databases, and epidemiological studies established by the Immunization Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SARS-CoV-2 variants and the risk of pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 among children in Germany.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the risk of pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) in children and the predominance of different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) over time.

Methods: In relation to the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron VOC phases of the pandemic, the risk of developing PIMS-TS was calculated by analyzing data for rtPCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections reported to the German statutory notification system, along with data captured by a separate, national PIMS-TS registry. Both overall infection rates and age group-specific ratios of PIMS-TS during the different pandemic phases were calculated using the Alpha period as the baseline.

A 5-year look-back at the notification and management of vaccine supply shortages in Germany.

BackgroundUnavailability of vaccines endangers the overall goal to protect individuals and whole populations against infections.MethodsThe German notification system includes the publication of vaccine supply shortages reported by marketing authorisation holders (MAH), information on the availability of alternative vaccine products, guidance for physicians providing vaccinations and an unavailability reporting tool to monitor regional distribution issues.AimThis study provides a retrospective analysis of supply issues and measures in the context of European and global vaccine supply constraints.

Impact of COVID-19 immunisation on COVID-19 incidence, hospitalisations, and deaths by age group in Germany from December 2020 to October 2021.

Background: Utilising national surveillance data, we investigated the impact of the COVID-19 immunisation campaign on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality between December/2020 and October/2021 in Germany.

Methods: We compared patterns in immunisation coverage, incidence, hospitalisations, and deaths among 12-17, 18-59, and 60+ year-olds and examined these patterns within the context of anti-pandemic measures.

Results: COVID-19 incidence increased in all age groups following the end of lockdown restrictions in March/2021, but as Germany experienced successive peaks in incidence, age groups with higher immunisation coverage experienced successively smaller peaks.

Monitoring of Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Pregnant Women in Germany Based on Nationwide Outpatient Claims Data: Findings for Seasons 2014/15 to 2019/20.

Pregnant women and their infants are at increased risk for severe influenza-related complications. A decade has passed since influenza vaccination was first recommended for pregnant women in Germany in 2010; however, monitoring of vaccination coverage (VC) has not yet been implemented for this target group. Using nationwide outpatient claims data, we here provide results on influenza VC among pregnant women in Germany for seasons 2014/15 to 2019/20.

Cancelled routine vaccination appointments due to COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Pandemic measures to mitigate the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Germany led to cancellations of routine vaccination appointments for both adults and children. Survey data indicate that, with easing pandemic restrictions, many cancelled appointments were rescheduled or caught up. Nevertheless, 40% of cancelled appointments were still not rescheduled and were primarily cancelled by patients.

[The global measles crisis-a diversity of causes from armed conflicts to vaccination skepticism].

Background And Aim: Despite a safe and effective vaccine being available for many years, the number of measles cases has been increasing again worldwide since 2018. Our report aims to identify putative reasons for this development.

Methods: We conducted a selective literature search.

Non-specific effects of MMR vaccines on infectious disease related hospitalizations during the second year of life in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Children who had received MMR as the most recent vaccine had a pooled 35% (95%CI: 12-53%) lower risk for hospitalization due to any infectious disease, compared to children who had received DTaP as the most recent vaccine (three studies, 1,919,192 children). The effect was stronger for respiratory tract infections than for gastrointestinal infections. Two studies investigated MMR alone, compared to concurrent administration of MMR and DTaP vaccines.

[Compliance with adult measles and pertussis vaccination recommendations : Analysis of data from the national monitoring system KV-Impfsurveillance].

The Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends adult measles and pertussis vaccination. The measles vaccine has been recommended since 2010 to adults born after 1970 with less than two doses in childhood, and an acellular pertussis vaccine (ap) since 2009 to be administered to all adults, with the next recommended decennial tetanus (T) and diphtheria (d) booster as a Tdap combination vaccine.We aim to determine the annual uptake of the measles vaccine (vaccination incidence) and its proportion in pediatric and gynecological practices as interdisciplinary services (2009-2016).

[Vaccination coverage of children and adolescents in Germany: New data from KiGGS Wave 2 and trends from the KiGGS study].

Since the baseline study of the "German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)" in 2003-2006, vaccination conditions in Germany have changed and additional vaccinations have been included in the immunization schedule. The current KiGGS data can be used to assess the current vaccination status of 3‑ to 17-year-olds and trends in the 1985-2013 birth cohorts.Of the 15,023 total participants in KiGGS Wave 2, 3238 aged 3-17 years participated in the KiGGS Wave 2 examinations and submitted the complete vaccination certificate or were, according to their parents, unvaccinated.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Chickenpox Vaccination and Risk of Herpes Zoster: A Quantitative View on the "Exogenous Boosting Hypothesis".

Background: The "exogenous boosting hypothesis" postulates that reexposure to circulating varicella zoster virus (VZV) over the life span inhibits reactivation of VZV. Consequently, if circulation of VZV is suppressed by introduction of chickenpox vaccination, incidences of herpes zoster may rise.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and metaanalysis on impact of chickenpox vaccination on herpes zoster incidence and time trend, focusing on population-level effects by analyzing interrupted time-series (ITS) studies.

Trends in herpes zoster epidemiology in Germany based on primary care sentinel surveillance data, 2005-2016.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster-virus (VZV). Childhood varicella vaccination, as recommended in Germany in 2004, may reduce the risk of HZ in vaccinated children but also virus circulation and thus the booster possibility of latent infected persons. In this context we analyzed age-specific trends in HZ epidemiology in Germany using data on HZ-associated outpatient consultations in participating sentinel sites and HZ-associated cases in all hospitals since 2005.

Influence of demographic changes on the impact of vaccination against varicella and herpes zoster in Germany - a mathematical modelling study.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that reduced exposure to varicella might lead to an increased risk for herpes zoster (HZ). Reduction of exposure to varicella is a consequence of varicella vaccination but also of demographic changes. We analyzed how the combination of vaccination programs and demographic dynamics will affect the epidemiology of varicella and HZ in Germany over the next 50 years.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in children under 16 years of age: Incomplete rebound in incidence after the maximum effect of PCV13 in 2012/13 in Germany.

Objective: To identify a potential nadir of the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) in infancy on invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in children under 16 in Germany.

Methods: Active surveillance on IPD based on two independent data sources with capture-recapture correction for underreporting. Annual incidence rates by age group, serotypes, site of infection, and relative incidence reduction compared to pre-vaccination period (1997-2001) at nadir and for the most recent season are reported.

Psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of short form of the Empathy Quotient (EQ-Short).

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Polish-language version of the EQ-Short questionnaire, designed to measure affective and cognitive empathy.

Methods: 940 subjects, aged 15-80, took part in the study. Subjects fluent in both Polish and English (N = 31) completed the questionnaire in the original English version and its Polish translation.

Varicella-zoster virus seroprevalence in children and adolescents in the pre-varicella vaccine era, Germany.

Background: In 2004, universal childhood varicella vaccination was introduced in Germany. We aimed to determine the age-specific prevalence of anti-varicella zoster virus (VZV) IgG-antibodies among children in the pre-varicella vaccine era in Germany, to identify factors associated with VZV seropositivity, and to assess the suitability of a commercially available ELISA for VZV seroepidemiological studies by comparing it with an in-house fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen test (FAMA) as the gold standard.

Methods: Serum samples of 13,433 children and adolescents aged 1-17 years included in the population-based German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS; conducted 2003-2006) were tested for anti-VZV IgG by ELISA.

Assessing varicella vaccine effectiveness and its influencing factors using health insurance claims data, Germany, 2006 to 2015.

In Germany, routine childhood varicella vaccination was implemented in 2004 with two doses recommended since 2009. We used an immunisation information system based on countrywide health insurance claims data to analyse vaccine effectiveness (VE) and factors influencing VE. We applied proportional hazard models to estimate VE under various conditions and compared the risk of acquiring varicella among unvaccinated children in regions with high vs low vaccination coverage (VC).

[The epidemiology of varicella disease in Germany after introduction of a vaccination recommendation : Analysis of mandatory and sentinel data between 2002 and 2014].

Background: Since 2004 a single varicella vaccination for all infants aged 11-14 months has been recommended in Germany and since 2009 a second dose at the age of 15-23 months is recommended. Vaccination coverage after 24 months rose from 43% in 2006 to 87.5% in 2012.

Strong Additional Effect of a Second Varicella Vaccine Dose in Children in Germany, 2009-2014.

Objectives: Vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 1 and 2 varicella vaccine doses in children aged 1-4 years in Germany was evaluated to determine the additional effect of a second dose recommended at least 4 weeks after the first dose and before the second birthday.

Study Design: To estimate the VE, the proportion of cases vaccinated was compared with the proportion of the population vaccinated using nationwide sentinel surveillance data from 2009-2014 and health insurance claims data covering the period January 2009-March 2014, respectively. A general linear model was used to estimate the OR of vaccination in the cases and the population and the corresponding CIs to observe the stability of the VE estimates over time, and to assess the incremental effectiveness of a second dose.

Current and future effects of varicella and herpes zoster vaccination in Germany - Insights from a mathematical model in a country with universal varicella vaccination.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is primarily known for causing varicella in childhood, but can reactivate again as herpes zoster (HZ) after a period of latency, mainly in persons older than 50 years. Universal varicella vaccination was introduced in Germany in 2004, while HZ vaccination has not been recommended yet. We aimed to quantify the potential long-term effects of universal childhood varicella vaccination and HZ vaccination of the elderly on varicella and HZ incidence in Germany over a time horizon of 100 years, using a transmission model calibrated to pre-vaccination data and validated against early post-vaccination data.

Laboratory investigations of vaccinated patients with varicella.

Background: Accompanying varicella vaccination in children in Germany recommended with one (2004) and two (2009) doses, sentinel surveillance of varicella with a sample (n∼900) of private physicians was established in 2005. Physicians reported monthly aggregated data on all varicella cases and case-based on vaccinated patients, of whom skin lesion samples were laboratory investigated to identify varicella-zoster virus (VZV). We analyzed the impact of vaccination frequency on the number of cases and on laboratory results within the sentinel.