Latest vaccination trends against herpes zoster within two primary care settings in Crete, Greece: Rates and...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Herpes zoster (HZ) vaccination is crucial for preventing complications in eligible populations.
• Understanding vaccination rates and their determinants in primary care settings is essential for public health strategies.
• The Health Beliefs Model (HBM) provides a framework for exploring factors influencing health behaviors, including vaccination decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the vaccination rate against herpes zoster (HZ) among eligible visitors in public Primary Health Care (PHC) settings.
• To identify determinants associated with HZ vaccination uptake using the Health Beliefs Model (HBM).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in two public PHC units in Greece between October and December 2022.
• Eligible participants (aged 60-75 years) completed a questionnaire assessing demographics, health habits, chronic illnesses, and HBM constructs related to HZ vaccination.
• Statistical analysis explored associations between participant characteristics, HBM variables, and HZ vaccination status.

Main Results:

• Of 400 attendees, 36.8% were vaccinated against HZ. Older age and respiratory illnesses were linked to higher vaccination rates.
• Positive associations with HZ vaccination included perceived threat (OR: 1.057), perceived benefits (OR: 1.327), and motivation for action (OR: 2.601).
• Perceived barriers, specifically safety concerns, were negatively associated with vaccination odds (OR: 0.845).

Conclusions:

• The study identified key determinants influencing herpes zoster vaccination uptake in a primary care setting.
• Perceived threat, benefits, and motivation are significant drivers of vaccination, while safety concerns act as a barrier.
• Enhancing healthcare professional education for personalized patient counseling is recommended to improve HZ vaccination coverage.