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The German Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz) came into action on January 1, 2001. Reporting of complications after vaccination became mandatory according to Article 6 No. 3. From January 1, 2001 to October 19, 2001 a total of 236 reports were registered in a central database and analyzed. Age distribution revealed the following pattern: 44.1% of the notifications concerned children from 0 to 11 years of age, 6.8% concerned adolescents and 48.7% concerned adults. Two deaths and nine lasting health damages were reported. For none of the latter adverse events a causal link to vaccination was evident. Compared to other sources of reporting (pharmaceutical companies, drug commissions) a considerable underreporting has to be considered. Efforts to improve the reporting compliance of physicians according to the requirements of the Protection against Infection Act are therefore necessary.