Influenza vaccination of hospital staff in Germany: a five-year survey on vaccination coverage and policies: identified deficits in influenza immunisation campaigns for hospital employees.

Objectives: Influenza vaccination of hospital staff is recommended by STIKO, the German committee for vaccination. A survey was conducted to assess compliance with this recommendation. The occupational health services of 25 hospitals participated in a survey and provided data by questionnaire on influenza vaccination and on hospital policies to promote coverage of employees.

Methods: Vaccination activities were monitored by occupational health services (OHS) for five consecutive years from 1997 to 2002. The hospital sample covered a total of 17,089 beds (3.23% of the hospital capacity in Germany) and a total number of 41,969 employees (4.39% of hospital staff).

Results: The proportion of hospitals actively offering influenza vaccination increased from 48 % in 1997/98 to 92% in 2001/02. Vaccination coverage of all staff in 1997 was only 3.3% and reached 8.4% in 2001/02. Coverage of vaccinating hospitals increased from 5.0% to 10.4%. Poster campaigns and managing board commitment had significant impact.

Conclusions: Considerable progress has been made to involve more hospitals and to increase coverage for vaccination of hospital employees. Nevertheless, coverage levels remain unacceptably low. Recommendations are ignored extensively.