Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Vaccinated Against Herpes Zoster in a Primary Care Setting in...

Herpes zoster (HZ), commonly known as shingles, is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that predominantly affects older adults and immunocompromised individuals. Vaccination with the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) has proven effective in preventing HZ and its complications in real-world scenarios, yet coverage remains suboptimal in primary care settings. This study aims to analyse the demographic and clinical characteristics of HZ-vaccinated patients in a primary care centre in Madrid, Spain, in 2023 and to assess adherence to the vaccination schedule.

A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted, including 1146 patients from a single primary care centre who received at least one dose of RZV during the study period. Data were extracted from medical records. Patient characteristics, including age, sex, and the presence of comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, asthma), were examined. Vaccine coverage was calculated for the new age cohorts introduced in the year 2023. Comorbidity prevalence was also analysed by age and sex to determine patterns in vaccination uptake.

The analysis revealed that 66% of vaccinated individuals presented one or more of the analysed comorbidities. Adherence to the two-dose schedule was 91.97%, and vaccine coverages were 46.56% in those born between 1943-1948 and 39.32% in the 1958 cohort. The findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to raise disease awareness and improve HZ vaccination rates and adherence, particularly among elderly individuals and those with comorbid conditions.

This study specifies the clinical characteristics of HZ-vaccinated patients in a primary care setting and highlights the importance of enhanced vaccination awareness and adherence strategies to reduce the burden of HZ among at-risk populations.