[Improvement of protection given by vaccination for socially underprivileged groups on the basis of "key persons approach" -- results of an intervention based on cultural and language aspects for children of immigrants in Altlander Viertel provided by the Health Department of Stade]

Abstract

In January 2002, a vaccination campaign against measles, mumps and rubella was carried out in the Altlander Viertel, a district in Stade, Germany. The campaign was directed towards children of immigrants, a group often at a disadvantage in terms of health. This campaign was organised and carried out by the public health department in Stade for the first time in September 2002. During regular health screenings when children were enrolled for school it was found that they children were poorly protected by vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella. Since several attempts to improve the situation, for example by organising information events, had not been successful, it was decided to develop special measures for this particular group in order to improve their health. Together with the Ethno-Medical Centre in Hanover the concept of a vaccination campaign considering the special situation of immigrants was developed. The core measures were to find, train and use key persons within the groups of immigrants are living in the Altlander Viertel in Stade. These key persons helped to inform and motivate the immigrants to go to the vacciantion stations set up in the district. In this way it was possible to carry out a successful intervention (vaccination campaign).