Vaccination status and vaccination behaviour of medical students and midwifery students

Background. Medical and midwifery students influence the vaccination decisions of their patients in their careers. To ensure patient safety and self-protection, a complete vaccination status is essential. Although studies on the vaccination status and behaviour of medical students are available, the data situation for midwifery students is insufficient.Objectives. Are there differences in the vaccination status and the assessed necessity of vaccination between medical and midwifery students? Are attitudes towards the vaccination and the stated vaccination status congruent?Methods. The Health Survey 2018 was used to examine differences between medical and midwifery students regarding their vaccination status and assessed necessity of vaccination for 13 vaccination indications. Data from 177 medical and 80 midwifery students from Saxony (response rate: 67% and 100%) were analysed using ?(2) test and logistic regression.Result. Reported complete vaccination status for mumps, measles and rubella did not differ significantly between midwifery students and medical students (88.6-91.1% vs. 95.4-96.0%), but there were significant differences for other vaccination indications (e.g. tetanus: 39.2% vs. 76.4%; pertussis: 40.5% vs. 75.7%; p < 0.001). Significantly more midwifery than medical students indicated vaccinations being not necessary/dangerous (e.g. rubella: 7.8% vs. 0%; human papillomavirus (HPV): 30.1% vs. 2.9%; influenza: 62.7% vs. 21.5%; p < 0.001).Conclusion. More midwifery than medical students reported inadequate vaccination status and rated vaccinations as unnecessary/dangerous. This is problematic due to the contact and counseling provided to expectant mothers and newborns. There is a need to increase awareness and action already during training, studies and continuing education for both cohorts.