Social Determinants of Shingles Vaccination in the United States

Only about one-third of older adults in the United States are vaccinated against shingles, contributing to approximately 1 million shingles cases annually. This study examines how sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and self-rated health are associated with shingles vaccine uptake.

Data come from the 2017 wave of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, using a subset of older adults aged 60-plus (N = 208,301). Logistic regression models test (a) for associations between individual-level sociodemographic characteristics and vaccine uptake and (b) whether health behaviors and self-rated health moderate these associations.

Black and Hispanic older adults have almost 50% lower odds of shingles vaccination, compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Abstaining from alcohol, being employed, living with children, and having poor self-rated health are also associated with lower uptake. Unmarried (vs married) individuals have lower odds of vaccination that are explained by broad differences in health behavior.

Our study contributes to understanding how shingles vaccination coverage systematically differs among social groups. In doing so, it provides guidance for public health interventions to increase uptake. This line of research is increasingly salient in a world facing novel virus threats and antivaccine social movements.