title: Low coverage and predictors of vaccination uptake against tick-borne encephalitis in Slovenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) was introduced in 1986, Slovenia remains one of the countries with the highest reported incidence rates. For exposed occupationally or during education/training, vaccination is reimbursed by employer or within mandatory health insurance, while others have to pay. Our aim was to obtain the first national estimate of self-reported uptake of vaccination against TBE in a probability sample of the general population aged ≥15 years and identify predictors of self-paid vaccination uptake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two questions on vaccination against TBE were added into the 2007 Slovenian version of European Health Interview Survey. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors independently associated with self-paid TBE vaccination uptake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall self-reported prevalence of TBE vaccination uptake was 12.4%, of which, due to occupational exposure 3.2%, exposure during education/training 2.3% and as military recruits 2.2%. Additional 4.6% individuals reported to be vaccinated due to 'other reasons' (self-paid). There were no gender differences among individuals who paid for vaccination (4.5 and 4.8%, respectively). Characteristics independently associated with higher odds for self-paid vaccination against TBE were high income, not being overweight and ever being vaccinated against influenza.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To reduce TBE morbidity in Slovenia vaccination coverage of the general population should be increased. Offering vaccination within compulsory health insurance together with intensive vaccination promotion would increase the vaccination coverage and reduce the social inequality in access.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. marta.vitek@ivz-rs.si
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grgic-Vitek
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klavs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000276:immunology*; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D017524:Slovenia; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014765:Viral Vaccines