Tick-borne encephalitis vaccination coverage among outdoor workers in Sweden: a nationwide survey
Vaccine·
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128593
- PMID
- 42001738
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W7154907570
- Study type
- Cross-sectional study
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Rising regional disease incidence contrasts with the exclusion of the prophylactic agent from official immunization schedules, highlighting the need for occupational-specific interventions and financial support mechanisms to mitigate transmission risk.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The investigation aimed to quantify tick-borne encephalitis immunization rates among Swedish individuals employed in outdoor occupations, addressing a documented gap in existing epidemiological data.
Study design
Researchers utilized a nationwide cross-sectional survey methodology to collect self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and practice data during 2024.
Population and setting
The analytical sample comprised 1006 consenting adults working in outdoor sectors such as agriculture, forestry, hunting, scientific research, and wildlife guiding across Sweden.
Main findings
Participants exhibited moderate awareness and positive views regarding immunization, yet actual uptake rates fell short of these metrics and differed markedly across demographics. Female respondents achieved higher assessment scores and vaccination rates than males, while geographic analysis revealed superior coverage in southern and central counties relative to northern areas. Roughly seventy percent indicated completion of a three-dose regimen, although distinct demographic clusters remained largely unprotected.
Public-health relevance
Rising regional disease incidence contrasts with the exclusion of the prophylactic agent from official immunization schedules, highlighting the need for occupational-specific interventions and financial support mechanisms to mitigate transmission risk.
Important limitations
The cross-sectional framework restricts temporal analysis of behavioral shifts, and reliance on self-reported immunization records introduces potential recall inaccuracies.
GIDS interpretation
This publication establishes a descriptive baseline for occupational immunization patterns, offering contextual reference points for literature mapping and regional health strategy discussions without implying real-time outbreak tracking.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 11 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.