Utilization and impact of European immunization week to increase measles mumps rubella vaccine uptake in Austria in 2016.

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Vaccine. 2017 Sep 5;35(37):4836-4839. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.07.047. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Utilization and impact of European immunization week to increase measles mumps rubella vaccine uptake in Austria in 2016.

Kreidl P¹ de Kat C²; EIW Tyrol-Study Group.

Collaborators (5)

Luckner-Hornischer A³ Decristoforo P⁴ Broksch I⁵ Würzner R⁴ Schmid D⁶.

Author information

Department of Hygiene Microbiology and Public Health Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria. Electronic address: peter.kreidl@i-med.ac.at.

WHO Regional Office for Europe Copenhagen Denmark.

Office of the Provincial Government of Tyrol (Amt der Tiroler Landesregierung) Innsbruck Austria.

Department of Hygiene Microbiology and Social Medicine Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria.

Medical University Innsbruck Austria.

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Austrian Agency for Food Safety Austria.

Abstract

This paper describes engagement in European Immunization Week (EIW) in Tyrol Austria in April 2016 and an assessment of its possible impact on demand for measles mumps rubella vaccination (MMR). It further describes the output of a knowledge attitudes and practice (KAP) survey conducted during EIW showing that 93% (188/202) of respondents were in favor of vaccination in general and 90% (192/214) perceived MMR vaccination to be important. MMR vaccination was perceived as important by more participants than other vaccinations. The number of MMR doses administered by public health services in the province of Tyrol during EIW was greater than in the previous week and EIW activities thus potentially resulted in increased MMR vaccine uptake in Tyrol during the observed period. The annual EIW campaign provides important opportunities to address vaccine hesitancy by raising awareness about immunization to identify barriers to immunization and test possible solutions.