Differences in Demographics of Vaccinees, Access to, and Satisfaction with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Procedures between German General Practices and Mass Vaccination Centers

Abstract

In the European Union, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines became available in December 2020. The vaccination campaign in Germany was initially implemented through mass vaccination centers and later joined by general practitioners (GPs) in spring 2021. This study compared population characteristics, perceived access barriers, and satisfaction with the vaccination procedure between vaccination centers and GP practices. A paper-based survey was distributed (07/2021-10/2021) among newly vaccinated individuals in ten GP practices (n = 364) and two vaccine centers (n = 474). Participants in vaccine centers were younger compared to participants in GP practices. GP preference was higher in older participants and those with pre-existing illnesses. Wait time at vaccination site was longer in GP practices, whereas travel distance to site was longer for participants in vaccine centers. However, satisfaction with patient education and recommendation of site were more likely with increasing comprehensibility of the vaccination procedure and physicians’ information as well as perceived sufficiency of patient education duration, factors that can be easily modified by all vaccination sites. Our results demonstrate that both types of vaccination sites complement each other in terms of accessibility and target population and that satisfaction with the vaccination procedure can be promoted at all sites by an easy-to-understand process.

The Role of Vaccination Centers in a National Mass Immunization Campaign—Policymaker Insights from the German COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine Roll-Out

“…An analysis from the beginning of the roll-out [48] suggests that the speed of the German vaccination campaign increased when medical practices joined, but this may be linked to increased time between doses rather than differences between vaccination centers and medical practices. From a user perspective, a study of all Berlin-based vaccination centers showed that long wait times and overall duration were emphasized as negative aspects of vaccination-center interaction [49], while a survey comparing 10 GP offices to two vaccination centers in Saxony suggests that wait times were longer in GP practices [50]. Yet, vaccination centers are a "one-stop shop" or "single purpose structure" focusing on just one task, which should provide an opportunity to optimize the process and allot for faster vaccination than in a generalist setting.…”

How Do Users Respond to Mass Vaccination Centers? A Cross-Sectional Study Using Natural Language Processing on Online Reviews to Explore User Experience and Satisfaction with COVID-19 Vaccination Centers

“…The vaccination center online reviews were extremely positively skewed compared to those of studies in other settings however [ 11 ]. Two survey-based studies of COVID-19 vaccination experience in Saudi Arabia and Saxony (Germany) [ 56 , 57 ] found similarly high overall satisfaction scores of above 90% for vaccination centers. Aside from actual experiences or self-selection, this positive skew could be linked to the gratitude and hope associated with the COVID vaccination [ 58 ], specifically in the beginning of the vaccination campaign.…”

“…With regards to time spent with patients, vaccination center users seemed more focused on efficiency (i.e., little time spent at the vaccination site) and the competence and friendliness of staff rather than ample exposure time to doctors. A survey-based study comparing vaccination centers and GP offices in Saxony, a more rural German region, found that wait times were lower at mass vaccination centers than at GP offices [ 56 ].…”

German GPs’ Self-Perceived Role in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Leadership, Participation in Regional Services and Preferences for Future Pandemic Preparedness

“…Vaccination centres were meant to increase accessibility for all citizens [ 49 ], be time-efficient [ 50 ], and allow for a high throughput of inoculations [ 51 ]. Prior studies have reported high patient satisfaction with vaccination centres [ 52 ]. In contrast to our results, a French study of vaccination centres among patients and healthcare workers found that healthcare workers were very satisfied with their accessibility, hygiene, and confidentiality [ 53 ].…”