Background: A certain percentage of the vaccinated population initially did not want to get vaccinated but changed their minds (from 30% to 70%). By October 2022, World Bank reported that the Philippines had 77.8% COVID-19 vaccination rate. Knowing the factors that changed their decision can help improve the vaccination rate. Objective: This survey aimed to identify the factors that influence positive change in vaccination decisions. Methods: This survey was conducted in the Philippines among Filipinos aged 18-80 years old between March to April 2022. The dependent variable in the study was decision change, a binary variable coded as 1 for a vaccinated person who changed their decision from no to yes and 0 for an unvaccinated person who did not change their decision from yes to no. Results: Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.89-0.96) and having a college degree (aOR=11.707, 95% CI=3.23-42.41) are related to changing decisions. Young and college degree holders are likely to change their decisions positively about getting vaccinated. Employer requirement also influences decision change because it affects a person's livelihood. High scores on vaccine confidence (aOR = 1.181, 95% CI = 1.12-1.25) and awareness (aOR = 1.318, 95% CI = 1.08-1.61) are associated with decision change. Conclusion Being young, educated, employed with a requirement to vaccinate, and having high vaccine awareness and confidence are strongly associated with a positive change in the decision to get vaccinated.
Vaccines ; Vaccination ; Philippines ; Awareness ; Covid-19

Introduction: Effective vaccination campaigns have been instrumental in reducing COVID-19 transmission and severe disease outcomes. Despite efforts to improve vaccine accessibility, vaccine literacy and confidence remain important determinants of vaccine uptake. Rural and geographically isolated communities often experience barriers to healthcare access that may affect vaccination coverage. This study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccination coverage, vaccine literacy, and vaccine confidence among residents of selected Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) in Floridablanca, Pampanga. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 211 residents of Barangays San Ramon and Nabuclod. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a translated and pretested questionnaire on vaccine literacy and vaccine confidence. Vaccination records obtained from the Rural Health Unit were reviewed to determine COVID-19 vaccination coverage. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize the data. Results: The majority of respondents demonstrated an average level of vaccine literacy (75.8%), while 17.5% exhibited high vaccine literacy. Most respondents also demonstrated positive to very positive vaccine confidence (71.6%). Among the eligible population, 80.5% had completed the primary COVID-19 vaccination series, whereas 19.5% remained unvaccinated. Among those who completed the primary series, only 24.2% had received at least one booster dose. Conclusion Residents of the selected GIDAs generally demonstrated average vaccine literacy, positive vaccine confidence, and relatively high primary COVID-19 vaccination coverage. However, low booster uptake and the persistence of unvaccinated individuals highlight the need for sustained health education, improved healthcare accessibility, and targeted community-based interventions. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening vaccine literacy and confidence to support future immunization programs in geographically isolated communities.
COVID-19 ; Rural Health ; Vaccination coverage

OBJECTIVE

Given that rabies remains endemic in the Philippines despite government interventions and the pandemicrelated restrictions have hampered its surveillance, this study aimed to estimate the effect of human population, anti-rabies vaccination efforts, and COVID-19 situation on the spread of rabies cases in the districts of Davao City, Philippines.

METHODS

A retrospective study of the canine records at Davao City Veterinarians’ Office was done from January 2018 to June 2021. Monthly rabies cases were ascertained, and the effect of the human population, COVID-19 season, and vaccination ratio on rabies cases was estimated using panel regression models adjusting for confounding factors.

RESULTS

The reporting of rabies cases was lower during COVID-19 than during the non-COVID-19 season, with an IRR of 0.52 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33–0.82]. Furthermore, rabies cases increased by 2.23% (95% CI: 0.60–3.89) per 1% increase in vaccination ratio. Additionally, high-population districts recorded more rabies cases than low-population districts.

CONCLUSION

Consistency in monitoring rabies cases during the pandemic is suggested as a roadmap for future program initiatives. Vaccination efforts should be reinforced to increase rabies awareness and ensure early response to emerging diseases. Moreover, highpopulated districts should be prioritized in implementing rabies control interventions to gain optimal development.

Human ; Animals ; Rabies ; Covid-19 ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer remains to be the second leading cancer and cause of cancer-related deaths among Filipino women despite the use of the Papanicolaou screening. Latest research has shown that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. With major morbidity and high mortality rates associated with HPV infection and cervical cancer, several modes of primary and secondary forms of prevention have to be implemented. Among the primary modes of prevention is the administration of the preventive vaccine, which has consistently shown to decrease substantially HPV disease and cervical cancer rates in developed countries. In our country, before a successful vaccination, program is implemented, several sociocultural issues have to be addressed. Knowledge, attitude, and motivational factors are vital in determining acceptance of the vaccine. One relevant setting is exploring the willingness of mothers to get their female children vaccinated even before they become sexually active.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine the association of the knowledge, attitude, and motivational factors of mothers on their willingness for their female children aged 9–13 years to undergo HPV vaccination at a tertiary government hospital.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out at a government institution.

POPULATION

The population consisted of 352 mothers with female children aged 9–13 years consulting the outpatient clinics at the department of obstetrics and gynecology at a tertiary government hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A pretested and validated survey was given to 352 respondents. They were asked to answer a self-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic, reproductive, sexual history variables, knowledge, and attitude, and motivational factors toward the disease and the associated vaccine.

RESULTS

Using the survey proportion estimation methods, the prevalence of women who were willing to enroll their daughters for HPV vaccination was 97.18% (n = 42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 94.91 to 98.46%). It can be noted that only a third of the sample had high knowledge on the vaccine and its use 34.93% (n = 124, 95% CI: 30.25 to 39.92%). More women who reached college level (χ2: 5.67) and also those whose youngest child was between 11 and 13 years old (χ2: 8.82)-had higher knowledge scores than otherwise. Those who have an annual income of greater than or equal to P 60,000 (χ2: 16.55) and are non-Catholic (χ2: 18.77) – also appeared to have higher knowledge ratings on the questionnaire. Women who never to a few times a year attend church-related activities had higher knowledge scores compared to women who were more frequent goers (χ2: 16.33). For the attitude toward the vaccine, more mothers believed that getting the vaccine would not have an effect on a girl’s sexual activity and most agreed that they would not be viewed as bad parents. Most women also did not believe that religion would affect their willingness to vaccinate their children. There was an association in the degree of agreement between negative and positive attitudes from the Chi-square test performed (χ2: 7.44, P: 0.01). There were more agreeing responses from factors determining positive attitude and more disagreeing responses in the factors determining negative attitude. With regard to motivational factors, more women agreed that the cost was prohibitive and that they were more willing if only two doses would be required for their daughters. They were also not concerned about what other parents may think about getting the vaccine. Most answered that they were willing to follow their doctors’ recommendations and they have trust in vaccine manufacturers. Most women were also concerned that their daughters may get cervical cancer in the future. There was no difference in the proportion of agreeing responses between positive and negative motivating factors among the study participants (Z: 0.30, P: 0.79). This suggested that these factors could be important predictors of willingness to use vaccination on their children. Based on the crude odds ratios from the logistic regression, the likelihood of being willing to administer HPV vaccine to their children was almost twice as the knowledge score and scores on the positive attitude items increased, and was found to be statistically significant. At the same time, the odds of willingness increased by more than twice as the score on the negative attitude items decreased, and was also significant. There was no noted association for the other predictors of the association.

CONCLUSION

The role of knowledge and attitudes on the negative perceptions on the vaccine were important predictors of the willingness of mothers to have their female children vaccinated against HPV infection.

Human ; Cervical Cancer ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Human Papillomavirus ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of routine childhood immunization depends on timely vaccine uptake and facility use patterns. This study examined the association between pediatric vaccination facility use patterns and routine childhood immunization uptake among children up to age eight years. METHODS: As part of the Kochi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), we analyzed data from 1,644 participants whose Maternal and Child Health Handbook photographs were collected in the eighth year of the cohort study. Maternal and Child Health Handbook records determined immunization completion. Participants were categorized into four groups based on pediatric vaccination facility use patterns: single facility use throughout, multiple facility use during the first period, multiple facility use during the second period, and multiple facility use throughout both periods. Maternal and child characteristics were collected via paper-based questionnaires. Associations between facility use patterns, sociodemographic factors, and immunization completion were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, routine childhood immunization completion was observed in 1,259 (76.6%) participants. Chi-square tests indicated that marital status, educational level, lower parity, never smoking, not attending nursery, and breastfeeding practice for infants aged four months old were significantly associated with routine childhood immunization completion. Single facility use throughout the immunization period was observed in 1,011 (61.5%) participants. Multiple facility use (38.5%) was associated with higher odds of routine childhood immunization incompletion than single facility use. This association was the strongest for those who used multiple facilities throughout the vaccination period (adjusted odds ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.91). CONCLUSIONS Single pediatric facility use was associated with higher routine immunization uptake. Our findings suggest that encouraging the use of one medical institution for a child's vaccinations may be a useful approach to consider when addressing vaccination coverage challenges.
Humans ; Japan ; Female ; Male ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Health Facilities/statistics & numerical data* ; Child ; Vaccination/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Immunization/statistics & numerical data* ; Cohort Studies ; Infant, Newborn

BACKGROUND: Japan lacks comprehensive reports on the nationwide voluntary vaccine coverage. The effectiveness of public subsidies in promoting vaccination has not been fully investigated. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the nationwide coverage of voluntary vaccines, compare it with that of national immunization program (NIP)-included vaccines, and investigate the effectiveness of public subsidies. METHODS: We obtained nationwide monthly vaccine market data for rotavirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus (DTaP-IPV), and mumps vaccines; estimated recipient numbers; and calculated coverage as the proportion of children from October 2011 to March 2022. Regarding the NIP-included vaccine, we compared vaccine coverage calculated from nationwide annual market data with that estimated by World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), using Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: The estimates of Hib and DTaP-IPV vaccine coverage derived from market data were slightly higher than the WHO/UNICEF estimates, with mean differences of 0.05 (95% CI: 0.02-0.07) for Hib and 0.03 (95% CI: 0.01-0.05) for DTaP-IPV. The coverage of the rotavirus vaccine gradually increased long before the implementation of national subsidies, reaching 0.9 in 2020. Hib vaccine coverage had already achieved 1.0 by January 2012. The coverage of the DTaP-IPV vaccine was approximately 0.6-0.8 in 2013, reaching 1.0 in 2014. The coverage of mumps vaccine increased gradually from 2011 to 2021. CONCLUSIONS Despite the possibility of overestimation, our estimates may serve as a valuable surrogate for actual vaccine coverage in Japan. An increasing trend in rotavirus and mumps vaccine coverage was observed when these vaccines were categorized as voluntary. Although vaccination policies differ from country to country, it would be beneficial to share findings on the impact of subsidies in Japan with other countries.
Japan ; Humans ; Vaccination Coverage/statistics & numerical data* ; Infant ; Immunization Programs/statistics & numerical data* ; Rotavirus Vaccines ; Haemophilus Vaccines ; Child, Preschool ; Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated ; Vaccines

The influenza virus is classified as a single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus in Orthomyxoviridae family, with epidemiological properties distinct from common cold. Previous studies have found that influenza infection can cause cardiac damage through various pathways, and patients with cardiovascular diseases are at relatively higher risk of adverse disease outcomes. Influenza vaccination has been proven to provide protective effect on patients with cardiovascular diseases. Currently, there is insufficient emphasis placed by cardiologists and cardiovascular disease patients on the prevention of influenza infection, leading to a low influenza vaccination rate in China. Therefore, based on the current clinical research progress and relevant guidelines, combined with the safety, feasibility and health economic benefits of influenza vaccinating in patients with cardiovascular diseases, as well as clinical experience from experts, this article proposes expert opinions on influenza vaccination in common cardiovascular diseases aiming to raise awareness of influenza prevention and benefiting patients.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control* ; Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage* ; Influenza, Human/prevention & control* ; Vaccination ; Expert Testimony

OBJECTIVE: Despite the global decrease in influenza infections during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, seasonal influenza remains a significant health issue. South Korea, known for its robust pandemic response and high influenza vaccination rates, offers a unique context for examining changes in vaccination trends during the pandemic. Using nationally representative data, we aimed to understand the impact of the pandemic on influenza vaccination behavior over a 12-year period and to identify vulnerable groups. METHODS: We analyzed influenza vaccination rates in South Korea between 2011-2022, focusing on pandemic-related impacts. The data of 2,426,139 adults (≥ 19 years) from the Korea Community Health Survey were used to assess demographic and sociological factors influencing vaccination behaviors. RESULTS: We observed an increase in influenza vaccination rates during the pre-COVID-19 period from 2011-2013 (weighted prevalence: 46.68% [95% confidence interval ( CI): 46.55-46.82]) to 2017-2019 (weighted prevalence: 52.50% [95% CI: 52.38-52.63]). However, a significant decline was observed in 2022, the late-COVID-19 pandemic period (weighted prevalence: 55.78% [95% CI: 55.56-56.01]), compared with the mid-pandemic period in 2021 (weighted prevalence: 59.12% [95% CI: 58.91-59.32]), particularly among populations traditionally prioritized for influenza vaccination, including older adults (≥ 65 years) and patients with chronic diseases and low educational and income levels. CONCLUSION The influenza vaccination rate in South Korea was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, showing a notable decrease among vulnerable demographic groups. This suggests the need for targeted public health strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination rates, particularly among high-risk populations.
Humans ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology* ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Female ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Vaccination/statistics & numerical data* ; Young Adult ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), is the second most common cancer among Filipino women. Despite vaccine availability, the Philippines has a low 60% immunization rate, driven by hesitancy and poor public awareness.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study assessed how 100 women (ages 18–45) in Quezon City understood HPV and their willingness to vaccinate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Researchers used a pre–post interventional study and purposive sampling and Cochran’s formula for size calculation. Participants completed a pretest, a Department of Health/World Health Organization/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-based digital educational intervention, a posttest, and a satisfaction survey. Data were gathered confidentially under informed consent.

RESULTS

Results showed significant improvement in knowledge and willingness to vaccinate (P < 0.001), with almost all respondents expressing willingness. The intervention received high satisfaction ratings, proving the digital tool was effective and well-received.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that a structured digital educational tool effectively bridges knowledge gaps and addresses vaccine hesitancy in a community setting. Findings emphasize the importance of targeted, community-level initiatives to reduce cervical cancer risk. Future research should include teens and males and use a larger randomized sample for definitive evidence.

Human ; Female ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Young Adult: 19-24 Yrs Old ; Adult: 25-44 Yrs Old ; Middle Aged: 45-64 Yrs Old ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses ; Vaccination ; Women

OBJECTIVES

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection linked to cervical and anal cancers. Although there are many studies worldwide on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding HPV, research in the Philippines is still limited. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of senior high school students in Manila regarding HPV infection and vaccination.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 345 senior high school students from a private tertiary school in Manila using a self-administered questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages summarized demographic characteristics and KAP responses

RESULTS

Most respondents demonstrated good knowledge of HPV, with 86.4% recognizing its link to cervical and anal cancer and 86% identifying it as a common sexually transmitted infection. Attitudes toward vaccination were largely positive: 73% expressed willingness to be vaccinated, and 87.8% considered the vaccine safe. However, only 2.6% had been vaccinated. Limited discussions about HPV, misconceptions about gender susceptibility, and low awareness of local vaccine availability contributed to poor uptake. The internet was the primary information source (84.9%).

CONCLUSION

Most respondents demonstrated good knowledge of HPV, with 86.4% recognizing its link to cervical and anal cancer and 86% identifying it as a common sexually transmitted infection. Attitudes toward vaccination were largely positive: 73% expressed willingness to be vaccinated, and 87.8% considered the vaccine safe. However, only 2.6% had been vaccinated. Limited discussions about HPV, misconceptions about gender susceptibility, and low awareness of local vaccine availability contributed to poor uptake. The internet was the primary information source (84.9%).

Vaccination