[Influence exercised by physicians on the vaccination rate].

This paper deals with the question whether physicians promote vaccinations among their patients. Besides this, we analyse which determinants influence the acceptance of vaccination among physicians. The investigations are based on data of a project granted by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; "Munich Vaccination Study 2001"). Within this study physicians as well as parents have been interviewed. The vaccination rate of the physicians' patients are influenced by attitudes of the physician and the attitudes he/she believes his/her patients have, but not so much by aspects of his/her behaviour. How many pamphlets and posters about vaccination are available in the doctors' practice or how long consultations about vaccination last on average has only marginal effects on the rate of vaccination among the doctors' patients. If it is a political aim to enlarge vaccination rates steps should concentrate on changing relevant attitudes.