Immunizations

Recombinant Zoster Vaccine Completion Rates Are Low

Receipt of the second dose of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is low, which may be due to social or economic demographics, according to new data.1

“Education, reminders, and reducing missed opportunities to vaccinate may increase completion,” the researchers wrote.1

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that healthy adults aged 50 years or older receive 2 doses of RZV.2 Dose 2 is recommended to be administered 2 to 6 months after the first dose.2

To conduct their study, the researchers included individuals aged 50 years or older who were members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California and who received the first dose of the RZV between April to November 2018. The researchers also tracked who completed and who did not complete the second dose of the RZV.

Then the researchers compared economic and social demographics, medical history, and status of vaccinations between individuals who completed the second dose of RZV and those who did not.

Overall, 31,120 individuals had received the first dose of RZV, 67.2% of whom completed the second dose within 9 months.

The following factors contributed to higher RZV completion rates:

  • White race/ethnicity
  • Higher neighborhood income and education
  • No medical history of chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, or dementia
  • More outpatient visits and fewer emergency department visits before or after the first dose
  • No history of hospitalizations after the first dose
  • Receiving the Influenza vaccine
  • Receiving the first dose of RZV in June to November vs April to May 2018
  • No receipt of concomitant vaccine with the first dose

 

“Completion of RZV series appears suboptimal in the early phase of implementation,” the researchers concluded. “Despite similar accessibility in a health care system, completion varied by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health status, and care seeking behavior, suggesting areas to target for improvement.”

—Amanda Balbi

References

  1. Ackerson B, Qian L, Sy LS, et al. Completion of the two-dose recombinant zoster vaccine series in adults 50 years and older. Vaccine. 2021;39(6):926-932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.12.076
  2. Shingles vaccination. Vaccines and Preventable Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed: January 25, 2018. Accessed: February 4, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html