Purpose
Although pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease, its incidence increased rapidly in Guro-gu, Seoul, since May 2024. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pertussis cases and outbreaks during this period.
Methods
Data from epidemiologic investigations of 355 laboratory-confirmed pertussis cases reported in 2024 in Guro-gu, Seoul, were analyzed using national surveillance records. Demographics, vaccination status, outbreak-associated educational settings, and symptom-to-test intervals were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests.
Results
Between May and December 2024, 355 cases were reported, 85.4% of which occurred among school-aged children and adolescents, representing a marked increase compared with previous years. Outbreaks were identified in two elementary schools, three middle schools, and four private academies, indicating clustered transmission in educational settings, with school-based attack rates ranging from 3.2% to 6.3%. Among 146 outbreak-associated school cases, 95.4% had completed age-appropriate vaccination on time. The symptom-to-test interval showed a right-skewed distribution (median, 6 days; interquartile range, 3–11), with longer delays observed in high school students.
Conclusion
The sharp increase in pertussis cases among school-aged children underscores the need for strengthened surveillance in educational settings and improved timeliness of testing to reduce transmission. Delays in symptom-to-test intervals and the occurrence of cases despite age-appropriate vaccination suggest possible waning immunity, highlighting the importance of evaluating booster vaccination strategies and targeted age-specific public health interventions.

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting parents' intentions to have their children aged 5-11 years vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Methods
The participants of the study were 298 parents with children aged 5-11 years in South Korea. Data collection took place from October 20 to October 26, 2022 and used an online survey (Google Forms). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t test, analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression in IBM SPSS version 26.0.
Results
The factors influencing participants' vaccination intentions for their children aged 5-11 years were cognitive behavioral control (β=.40, p<.001), attitudes (β=.37, p<.001), subjective norms (β=.20, p<.001), and awareness of whether their child could receive the COVID-19 vaccine (β=.07, p=.016). The explanatory power of the regression equation was 89%.
Conclusion
Parents' intentions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 are influenced by their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control toward vaccines. Since parents are concerned about vaccine side effects, it is important to establish a trusted line of communication to keep them informed about vaccinations.

Purpose
This study was conducted using the theory of planned behavior to analyze factors influencing mothers' intention to vaccinate their children against hepatitis A (HA).
Methods
This descriptive study used a questionnaire. The participants were 100 mothers with children under 19 years. The collected data were analyzed by the t-test, analysis of variance, and the Mann-Whitney U test. The Pearson's correlation was used to test the correlations among variables. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify factors related to HA vaccination intention.
Results
The attitude of mothers with children under 19 to HA vaccination were quite positive (6.2 of 7), and their perceived behavioral control (5.73 of 7), subjective norm (5.54 of 7), and vaccination intention (5.96 of 7) were relatively high. Attitude toward HA vaccination was the strongest influencing factor, followed by subjective norm. The explanatory power of attitude and subjective norm for HA vaccination was 84%. Conclusion: HA vaccination is very important for preventing HA. Mothers' positive attitudes toward HA vaccination were an important factor influencing their children's HA vaccination. Providing education on the benefits of HA vaccination and the vaccination schedule may foster positive attitude toward vaccination.

Citations

• Applying the theory of planned behavior to predict COVID-19 booster vaccination intentions of college students
  Hannah Priest Catalano, Keith Richards, Katherine Hyatt Hawkins Shaw, Michael Catalano
  Journal of American College Health.2025; 73(2): 625.     CrossRef
• Caring behaviors and associated predictive factors in nurses caring for Covid-19 patients: An application of the theory of planned behavior
  Reyhaneh Maleki, Afsaneh Raiesifar, Nasibeh Sharifi, Elham Shafiei, Fatemeh Darabi
  Heliyon.2025; 11(4): e42683.     CrossRef
• Testing an extended theory of planned behaviour in predicting Covid-19 vaccination intention over the course of the pandemic: A three-wave repeated cross-sectional study
  Miriam Capasso, Mark Conner, Daniela Caso
  Heliyon.2024; 10(3): e24826.     CrossRef
• The Association between Message Framing and Intention to Vaccinate Predictive of Hepatitis A Vaccine Uptake
  Nora Satybaldiyeva, Lourdes S. Martinez, Brittany Cooper, Eyal Oren
  International Journal of Environmental Research an.2024; 21(2): 207.     CrossRef
• Perceptions and Cues to Action as Predictors of Nurses’ Vaccination Intentions at Two Primary Health Care Facilities in Ghana
  Solomon Tagbor, Lillian Akorfa Ohene, Charles Ampong Adjei, Josephine Kyei
  The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygi.2023; 108(2): 433.     CrossRef
• Understanding the psychosocial determinants of Italian parents’ intentions not to vaccinate their children: an extended theory of planned behaviour model
  Daniela Caso, Miriam Capasso, Rosa Fabbricatore, Mark Conner
  Psychology & Health.2022; 37(9): 1111.     CrossRef
• Factors associated with preventive behaviors for COVID-19 among adolescents in South Korea
  Sunhee Park, Sumi Oh
  Journal of Pediatric Nursing.2022; 62: e69.     CrossRef
• The Mediating Roles of Attitude Toward COVID-19 Vaccination, Trust in Science and Trust in Government in the Relationship Between Anti-vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs and Vaccination Intention
  Miriam Capasso, Daniela Caso, Gregory D. Zimet
  Frontiers in Psychology.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Hepatitis A virus knowledge and immunization attitudes and practices in the United Arab Emirates community
  Kamel A. Samara, Hiba J. Barqawi, Basant H. Aboelsoud, Moza A. AlZaabi, Fay T. Alraddawi, Ayten A. Mannaa
  Scientific Reports.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Anticipating pride or regret? Effects of anticipated affect focused persuasive messages on intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19
  Miriam Capasso, Daniela Caso, Mark Conner
  Social Science & Medicine.2021; 289: 114416.     CrossRef
• Multidimensional social and cultural norms influencing HPV vaccine hesitancy in Asia
  Li Ping Wong, Pooi-Fong Wong, Megat Mohamad Amirul Amzar Megat Hashim, Liyuan Han, Yulan Lin, Zhijian Hu, Qinjian Zhao, Gregory D. Zimet
  Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.2020; 16(7): 1611.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
Despite the well-known public health benefits of vaccination, increasing public concern about the safety of childhood vaccinations has led some parents to refuse or hesitate having their children immunized. The purpose of this study was to identify the subjectivity of parents toward refusal of childhood vaccination.
METHODS
Q-methodology, in which subjective viewpoints are explored and analyzed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques, was used. Thirty-five participants were asked to rank 42 statements on diverse issues of childhood vaccination according to a continuous 9-point scale ranging from -4 for strongly disagree to +4 for strongly agree. Collected data was analyzed using the PC-QUANAL program.
RESULTS
The results revealed three discrete groups of parents in the refusal of children's immunization: type I, distrust; type II, concern about side effects, and type III, belief that vaccinations are unnecessary.
CONCLUSION
Special nurse counselors who can provide correct information about vaccination based on the three types should be part of the government policy. Customized education programs to shift viewpoints should be also redeveloped according to the results in this study.

Citations

• Risk of Absence of Measles Antibody in Healthcare Personnel and Efficacy of Booster Vaccination
  Chung-Jong Kim, Ji-Yun Bae, Kang-Il Jun, Hae-Sun Chung, Aeyeon Kim, Jihee Kim, Hee-Jung Son, Miae Lee, Hee-Jung Choi
  Vaccines.2021; 9(5): 501.     CrossRef
• Political Ideologies, Government Trust, and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Survey
  Hyun Kyung Park, Ji Hye Ham, Deok Hyun Jang, Jin Yong Lee, Won Mo Jang
  International Journal of Environmental Research an.2021; 18(20): 10655.     CrossRef
• Psychosocial Review of Vaccine Hesitancy
  Hyein Park, Minyoung Sim
  Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association.2021; 60(4): 253.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The study was done to investigate factors in mothers related to their intention to get additional vaccination for their children aged 4~6 years.
METHODS
A descriptive correlational study was conducted. The participants were 858 mothers conveniently selected from a public health center in Seoul. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used for data analysis.
RESULTS
The mothers got a high of 2.08 marks on intention to get additional vaccination. The intention was positively correlated to attitude, perceived benefits, self-efficacy and negatively to perceived barriers, parenting stress. The most significant variables was attitude, perceived benefits, self-efficacy and those three variables explained 42.7% of mother's intention for additional vaccination.
CONCLUSION
The above mentioned findings were identified as significant factors affecting mother's intention for additional vaccination. The findings are expected to make a positive contribution to creating an ideal intervention and to promoting an increased vaccination rate.