Background: In North-Rhine Westphalia the number of people being accommodated in reception facilities for asylum seekers increased significantly from 2013 to 2015. Single cases and also clustering of vaccine preventable diseases, such as chicken pox, did occur in those facilities. The local public health authorities are responsible for implementing infection control measures of communicable diseases. Methods: In this context serological screenings were performed at some of these facilities to measure the asylum seekers' immune status of chicken pox and hepatitis A. Results: Data analysis shows an overall high immunity to chicken pox (82.4 %) and hepatitis A (85.4 %). In both cases immunity increased with age. This was also true when stratifying by country of origin. Comparing two different populations at different time points in one facility we observed a difference of 10% in the overall immunity for chicken pox. Discussion and Conclusions: The results are indicating that an extensive and continuous immunisation of unprotected individuals is crucial in preventing transmission of vaccine preventable diseases and the emergence of immunisation gaps. Especially in children and young adolescents an immunisation status needs to be ensured as early as possible, according to their age and regardless of serological screenings.

Hepatitis A Asylum seekers Serologic tests Infection control Varicella

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