Offering flu shots in hospital to people with heart disease
Tests flu shots given in hospital to adults with acute coronary syndrome or heart failure.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Intrahospital Influenza Vaccination in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk (VACC-UP)
Key facts
- Where
- Cologne and Hamburg, GermanySee the 2 sites
Where in Germany
- Clinic III for Internal Medicine, University Hospital of CologneCologne, GermanyTaking people
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Centre HamburgHamburg, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Stephan Baldus
- Trial code
- NCT07721649
- Record updated
- 13 October 2026
- Original description
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of offering intrahospital influenza vaccination as an adjunct to active counseling during the index hospitalization to adult patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or congestive heart failure (CHF), compared with active counseling alone, on influenza vaccination rates in patients at high cardiovascular risk.Read full original descriptionShow less
Intrahospital Vaccination and Active Counseling Versus Active Counseling Alone to Increase Seasonal Influenza immUnization in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk in Germany: The Randomized Controlled VACC-UP Study
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of offering intrahospital influenza vaccination as an adjunct to active counseling during the index hospitalization to adult patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or congestive heart failure (CHF), compared with active counseling alone, on influenza vaccination rates in patients at high cardiovascular risk.
Patients are randomized 1:1 to either an offer of bedside intrahospital influenza vaccination according to the recommendations of the German Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) in addition to standardized active counseling (intervention group), or standardized active counseling plus the standard-of-care recommendation for ambulatory vaccination in the discharge papers (control group). The primary endpoint is the influenza vaccination rate at the end of the index season (March 31).
Inclusion: Age 18 years or older; Hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or congestive heart failure (CHF) and fulfilling the criteria for influenza vaccination according to the recommendations of the German Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO); Written informed consent.
Exclusion: Already received seasonal influenza vaccination in the current season, based on self-reported vaccination status and/or vaccination certificate; Contraindication for vaccination (e.g., known allergy); Laboratory-confirmed active influenza infection during the index hospitalization; Inability to provide written informed consent.