Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in Germany
Abstract Introduction The German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) changed the vaccination schedule for mature infants from a 3 + 1 to a 2 + 1 schedule for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) in August 2015 and for hexavalent vaccines (HEXA) in August 2020. A 3 + 1 schedule is still recomm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Adis, Springer Healthcare
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Infectious Diseases and Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01173-8 |
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| author | Felicitas Kühne Christof von Eiff Julia Schiffner-Rohe Lina Döring Kathrin Gerchow Karolin Seidel Maren Laurenz |
| author_facet | Felicitas Kühne Christof von Eiff Julia Schiffner-Rohe Lina Döring Kathrin Gerchow Karolin Seidel Maren Laurenz |
| author_sort | Felicitas Kühne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction The German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) changed the vaccination schedule for mature infants from a 3 + 1 to a 2 + 1 schedule for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) in August 2015 and for hexavalent vaccines (HEXA) in August 2020. A 3 + 1 schedule is still recommended for premature infants for both vaccinations. This study analyzed the impact of the changed recommendations of PCV and HEXA vaccination on the vaccination compliance and adherence of premature infants. Methods A retrospective claims data analysis was conducted using the InGef Research Database. The study population included all premature and mature infants born in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 with an individual follow-up of 24 months. Premature infants were identified by ICD-10-GM codes P07.2 and P07.3. Documented records of vaccinations were assessed in the outpatient setting. Full vaccination rates of PCV and HEXA vaccination according to STIKO recommendations, valid in the respective observational year and maturity of birth, were analyzed. Results After the change in STIKO recommendations in 2020, the full HEXA vaccination rate for premature infants decreased significantly to 57.8% (2018, 71.0%), while it increased to 81.3% (2018, 73.8%) for mature infants. A similar pattern was observed during the transition from a 3 + 1 to a 2 + 1 PCV vaccination schedule among mature infants comparing birth cohorts 2013 (premature 65.4% vs mature 68.3%) and 2016 (premature 40.8% vs mature 75.6%). Conclusion Despite the continued recommendation for a 3 + 1 PCV and HEXA vaccination schedule in premature infants, a significant decrease of completed immunization was observed for both vaccines following the adjusted recommendations for mature infants. These findings underscore the need for enhanced efforts to promote adherence to STIKO guidelines to safeguard this vulnerable population of premature infants. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36ec34cb9b8742a6be9ee0a0addacad9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2193-8229 2193-6382 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Adis, Springer Healthcare |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infectious Diseases and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-36ec34cb9b8742a6be9ee0a0addacad92025-08-20T03:46:11ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareInfectious Diseases and Therapy2193-82292193-63822025-07-011481867188210.1007/s40121-025-01173-8Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in GermanyFelicitas Kühne0Christof von Eiff1Julia Schiffner-Rohe2Lina Döring3Kathrin Gerchow4Karolin Seidel5Maren Laurenz6Pfizer Pharma GmbHPfizer Pharma GmbHPfizer Pharma GmbHPfizer Pharma GmbHXcenda GmbH, part of CencoraXcenda GmbH, part of CencoraPfizer Pharma GmbHAbstract Introduction The German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) changed the vaccination schedule for mature infants from a 3 + 1 to a 2 + 1 schedule for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) in August 2015 and for hexavalent vaccines (HEXA) in August 2020. A 3 + 1 schedule is still recommended for premature infants for both vaccinations. This study analyzed the impact of the changed recommendations of PCV and HEXA vaccination on the vaccination compliance and adherence of premature infants. Methods A retrospective claims data analysis was conducted using the InGef Research Database. The study population included all premature and mature infants born in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 with an individual follow-up of 24 months. Premature infants were identified by ICD-10-GM codes P07.2 and P07.3. Documented records of vaccinations were assessed in the outpatient setting. Full vaccination rates of PCV and HEXA vaccination according to STIKO recommendations, valid in the respective observational year and maturity of birth, were analyzed. Results After the change in STIKO recommendations in 2020, the full HEXA vaccination rate for premature infants decreased significantly to 57.8% (2018, 71.0%), while it increased to 81.3% (2018, 73.8%) for mature infants. A similar pattern was observed during the transition from a 3 + 1 to a 2 + 1 PCV vaccination schedule among mature infants comparing birth cohorts 2013 (premature 65.4% vs mature 68.3%) and 2016 (premature 40.8% vs mature 75.6%). Conclusion Despite the continued recommendation for a 3 + 1 PCV and HEXA vaccination schedule in premature infants, a significant decrease of completed immunization was observed for both vaccines following the adjusted recommendations for mature infants. These findings underscore the need for enhanced efforts to promote adherence to STIKO guidelines to safeguard this vulnerable population of premature infants.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01173-8AdherenceChanges of STIKO recommendationClaims data analysisComplianceHexavalent vaccinationMature infants |
| spellingShingle | Felicitas Kühne Christof von Eiff Julia Schiffner-Rohe Lina Döring Kathrin Gerchow Karolin Seidel Maren Laurenz Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in Germany Infectious Diseases and Therapy Adherence Changes of STIKO recommendation Claims data analysis Compliance Hexavalent vaccination Mature infants |
| title | Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in Germany |
| title_full | Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in Germany |
| title_short | Impact of Revised Vaccination Recommendations for Mature Infants on Premature Infants’ Vaccination Compliance in Germany |
| title_sort | impact of revised vaccination recommendations for mature infants on premature infants vaccination compliance in germany |
| topic | Adherence Changes of STIKO recommendation Claims data analysis Compliance Hexavalent vaccination Mature infants |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01173-8 |
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