From mandatory to voluntary vaccination: intention to vaccinate in the case of policy changes.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes according to health belief model (HBM) attributes with the intention to vaccinate children in cases of non-mandatory vaccination to support informed decisions in planned revision of our vaccination policy.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study carried out on a random sample of 3,854 women with young children in Slovenia.

Methods: The participants' attitudes were grouped within six HBM attributes (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, clue to action and self-efficacy).

Acceptance of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Among Slovenian Physicians, 2016.

Introduction: Vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all healthcare workers including physicians in Slovenia to protect vulnerable individuals and reduce transmission of influenza viruses. The aim of our study is to determine the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, to identify factors associated with that vaccination and assess their attitudes and beliefs regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed among physician members of the Slovenian Medical Chamber.

Analysis of 22 Years of Surveillance for Prion Diseases in Slovenia, 1996 to 2017.

Introduction: The objective was to present the results of surveillance of prion diseases in Slovenia that was established in 1996 and then to assess the interdisciplinary approach according to the algorithm of case management and reporting data to the National Register at the National Institute of Public Health.

Methods: A descriptive study of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) recorded in the period from 1996 to 2017 was carried out.

Results: A total of 123 cases of prion disease were notified between 1996 and 2017.

Vaccine confidence among mothers of young children, Slovenia, 2016.

Objectives: We conducted the first nationwide survey in Slovenia to measure and characterise vaccine confidence among mothers of young children. This survey measured confidence in routine vaccines for children <2 years of age and in the information sources about these vaccinations to provide baseline data for public health actions to maintain and improve vaccination coverage.

Methods: We randomly selected women giving birth in 2014-15 from the national perinatal information system (N = 39,497).

The growing vaccine hesitancy: exploring the influence of the internet.

Background: Vaccination coverage is dropping in several countries, including Slovenia. More and more people hesitate or even reject vaccinations. As the influence of the internet grows, the question becomes how to communicate about vaccination to parents in order to prevent this drop in vaccination coverage among children.

Estimating the annual burden of tick-borne encephalitis to inform vaccination policy, Slovenia, 2009 to 2013.

With an annual incidence between 8 and 15 per 100,000 population in the period from 2009 to 2013, Slovenia has one of the highest notified incidences of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe. TBE vaccination coverage remains at about 7.3%.

Adverse events following school-based vaccination of girls with quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in Slovenia, 2009 to 2013.

Adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) with qHPV reported to the Slovenian AEFI Registry for the first four school years of the vaccination programme were analysed. We calculated annual reporting rates for 11-14 year-old vaccinees with AEFIs, using the number of qHPV doses distributed within the school-based vaccination programme as the denominator. Between September 2009 and August 2013, 211 AEFIs that occurred in 89 vaccinees were reported, a rate of 149.

A Five Site Clostridium Perfringens Food-Borne Outbreak: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: In May of 2012, we investigated a food-borne Clostridium perfringens outbreak in Slovenia involving a single kitchen and five venues, with 477 exposed persons.

Methods: In order to identify the causative agent, vehicle of infection and source of contamination, we conducted microbiological and environmental investigations and an analytical cohort study (n = 138).

Results: The case definition in the outbreak was met by 104 persons.

Tick-borne encephalitis associated with consumption of raw goat milk, Slovenia, 2012.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) developed in 3 persons in Slovenia who drank raw milk; a fourth person, who had been vaccinated against TBE, remained healthy. TBE virus RNA was detected in serum and milk of the source goat. Persons in TBE-endemic areas should be encouraged to drink only boiled/pasteurized milk and to be vaccinated.

Increased number of cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Slovenia, January to April 2012.

Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is endemic in parts of Slovenia. Since 1999, in January to April each year, the number of notified cases has generally been low (n=0-6). A high number of cases (n=26) in the first four months of 2012 has been observed, similar to that seen in the same period in 2008 (n=14).

Surveillance of adverse events following immunization against pandemic influenza in Slovenia in season 2009/10.

The results of Slovenian surveillance system of AEFI which was in place for the early detection and investigation of rare adverse events were analysed. The reports about AEFI obtained from physicians, and self-assessment questionnaires from vaccinated persons showed predominantly non-serious and expected side effects. Nine reports (3%) included serious AEFI.

Spotlight on measles 2010: a cluster of measles in a hospital setting in Slovenia, March 2010.

After ten years of being measles free, Slovenia experienced a cluster with secondary transmission in a hospital setting in March 2010. The index case, a resident of Ireland, was hospitalised on the day after his arrival to Slovenia and diagnosed with measles two days later. After his discharge, two cases of measles were notified, a hospital staff member and a visitor to the clinic, suggesting transmission in a hospital setting.

Characterisation of invasive Haemophilus influenzae isolates in Slovenia, 1993-2008.

The objectives of our study were to describe the epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease from 1993 to 2008 in Slovenia, a country with routine H. influenzae serotype b (Hib) conjugate vaccination since the year 2000. A total of 292 isolates of H.

Analysis of Slovenian MRSA strains with susceptibility patterns suggestive of CA-MRSA.

Background: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) differs from healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) in its molecular and microbiological characteristics.

Materials And Methods: Six Slovenian regional public health institutes and the National Institute of Public Health took part in monitoring CA-MRSA infections. S.

An increase in reported cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Slovenia in early 2008.

Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an acute zoonotic viral disease, caused by hantaviruses. Hantaviruses infect rodents worldwide. They are transmitted to humans by aerosol from rodent excreta.

Re-emergence of pertussis in Slovenia: time to change immunization policy.

The introduction of childhood vaccination has dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality of pertussis in Slovenia. However, despite high vaccination coverage for many decades, reported incidence has increased recently, to the highest incidence of 27.5/100,000 in 2006, a 6.

Vaccination coverage in hard to reach Roma children in Slovenia.

The results of the retrospective analysis of data on vaccination coverage in the preschool-aged and school-aged Roma children (436 preschool and 551 schoolchildren) in three geographical regions of Slovenia were analyzed to establish the differences concerning coverage for specific vaccinations: poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella between the two generation. The data were obtained from health records, immunization records (Vaccination booklet) and National Computerized Immunization System (CEPI 2000). Vaccination coverage was calculated by comparing the number of children eligible for immunization with the number of vaccinated children.