Vaccination reminders in Germany: inventory and ideas for tomorrow using the example of HPV vaccination: Report on the results of the InveSt HPV project

Abstract

In Germany, vaccinations take place almost exclusively in physicians’ private practices. This means that every contact with a practice or physician is an important opportunity to receive a recommended vaccination. The effectiveness of invitation and reminder systems for the implementation of recommended vaccinations has already been proven by studies, but in contrast to many other countries, such systems are not used across the board in Germany. The “Intervention Study to Increase HPV Vaccination Coverage in Germany” (InveSt HPV) therefore addresses, among other things, the question of what barriers exist to the use and dissemination of invitation and vaccination reminder systems. To this end, two nationwide quantitative surveys of (i) 345 pediatricians in private practices and (ii) 1805 parents with children aged 9 to 14 as well as a survey of 46 statutory health insurances with around 51 million insured persons were conducted. The survey results and other evidence compiled by the project team formed the basis for a workshop with vaccination-relevant stakeholders from the healthcare sector. The aim of the workshop was to work together on concepts for a future invitation and vaccination reminder system in Germany using the specific example of the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination. This report presents the core results of the surveys conducted and selected additional evidence compiled by the project team for the workshop. Finally, the workshop and the key elements developed by the participants for an HPV-related invitation and vaccination reminder system 2.0 are described.