INTRODUCTION: During the influenza season of 1999-2000, private vaccination clinics in Denmark increasingly offered influenza vaccination in competition with general practitioners (GPs). The clinics arranged group vaccinations in the local community or at workplaces at prices below the standard price. The aim of this study was to assess the actual proportion of people vaccinated, both in the elderly and in the younger population, and to elucidate the effect of marketing by the private vaccination clinics.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: In February 2000, a questionnaire about influenza vaccination and general health was posted to 2,144 persons aged 65 or older and 1,717 aged 18-64 years randomly drawn from the Home Office Central Person Register. The questionnaire was completed by 70% in the older group and 66% in the younger group.

RESULTS: In Denmark, 47% of the older group and 8% of the younger group were vaccinated against influenza. In the municipality of Copenhagen the acceptance rate was 66% in the older group, compared to 46% in the rest of the country. General practitioners vaccinated 69% of the older group and 66% of the younger group, 24% were vaccinated at a vaccination clinic, and 7% were vaccinated elsewhere. Half the 18-64 year-olds were vaccinated by their own GP, 33% at their workplace, 11% at a vaccination clinic, and 6% elsewhere.

DISCUSSION: Based on this study, it is recommended that more effort is made to vaccinate young people in treatment for a chronic illness and the elderly against influenza. Influenza vaccination campaigns aimed at defined target groups could easily be done by general practitioners without establishing a new ad hoc organisation.