Herpes zoster vaccine awareness and acceptance among adults in Saudi Arabia: a survey-based cross-sectional study

AlMuammar, Sarah; Albogmi, Afaf; Alzahrani, Manar; Alsharef, Fai; Aljohani, Raghad; Aljilani, Teif

doi:10.1186/s40794-023-00202-z

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Similarly, just under 30% were aware that the vaccine is also indicated for those 18 years or older with a history of autoimmune disease or who are on immunosuppressive medication. Our finding is in line with other research indicating a general lack of knowledge about vaccine indications among the public [ 12 , 15 , 17 ]. This gap in knowledge may be attributed to the absence of campaigns related to HZ and its vaccination.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

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Public Perception in Saudi Arabia Toward Herpes Zoster and Its Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study

AlKhowailed,

Alotaibi,

Aljurays

et al. 2024

Cureus

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Background Herpes zoster (HZ) or shingles, arises from the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), mainly affecting older and immunocompromised individuals. Despite the efficacy of vaccines, vaccination rates in Saudi Arabia are low. Thus, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the Saudi Arabian population toward HZ and its vaccination. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the public perception in Saudi Arabia toward HZ and its vaccination, during the period from January to March 2024. Participants were selected using a non-probability, convenience sampling method, with recruitment facilitated through WhatsApp, a messaging app. Data has been analyzed using the statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). A p-value of <0.05 has been used to report the statistical significance. Results The study's demographic profile included 1237 participants, predominantly younger than 30 years (65.5%), with a female majority (65.7%). Public knowledge about HZ was limited, only 29.6% of participants recognized the risk of HZ post-chickenpox. More than half of the participants were not aware that the vaccine is provided by the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) for certain groups. However, over 75% are willing to receive the HZ vaccine upon physician recommendation. Conclusion This study shows a general lack of awareness about HZ and its vaccination in Saudi Arabia, including misconceptions about vaccination availability, recommendations, and the disease's complications. Gender differences in attitude and interest highlight the potential for tailored educational campaigns. Addressing these issues is essential for improving vaccination rates and mitigating HZ's impact.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…A few studies have suggested a limited awareness of HZ and its vaccination among the Saudi population. However, the magnitude is unknown [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Perception in Saudi Arabia Toward Herpes Zoster and Its Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study

AlKhowailed,

Alotaibi,

Aljurays

et al. 2024

Cureus

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“…However, the vaccination rate (8%) was lower than expected. This aligns with a small percentage of individuals who had already been vaccinated, consistent with a previous study conducted in Saudi Arabia [ 9 ]. This similarity may be attributed to factors such as accessibility or vaccine availability in both study populations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The results indicated that a majority of the participants had heard of herpes zoster, albeit less than reported in a previous study conducted in Saudi Arabia [ 9 ]. In terms of the acceptance of the herpes zoster vaccine, a high percentage believed the VZV vaccine to be effective (89%) and available in Saudi Arabia (87%).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 63%

Knowledge About the Herpes Zoster (HZ) Vaccine and Its Acceptance Among the Population in Al-Ahsa City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Bohamad,

Alojail,

Alabdulmohsin

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Introduction Herpes zoster (HZ), caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), poses a public health concern in Saudi Arabia, with an increasing number of cases reported in recent years. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and acceptance of the herpes zoster vaccine among Saudi Arabian citizens in Al-Ahsa. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using online surveys administered via social media platforms. The study was conducted in Al-Ahsa, a city located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahsa serves as a representative urban area within Saudi Arabia. Result The study found a high level of awareness and knowledge about the vaccine, with 78.2% of the participants having heard of herpes zoster. The majority considered the vaccine effective (89%) and believed it was available in Saudi Arabia (87%). However, the vaccination rate was only 8%. The study revealed varied opinions on the target population for vaccination, with 39.7% favoring immunocompromised patients and 38.1% choosing individuals above 50 years. The reasons for not being vaccinated included a lack of information (38.3%) and the belief of being in good health (37.3%). Conclusion The findings suggest a need for targeted educational campaigns to address misconceptions and promote vaccination, particularly among healthcare providers and the recommended target populations. Future research should explore barriers to vaccination to inform tailored interventions.

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“…The Italian Ministry of Health does not currently provide vaccination coverage rates for Herpes Zoster but merely indicates an optimal coverage of 50% [ 22 ]. Recent international studies have reported varied uptake rates, ranging from approximately 8% in Saudi Arabia to 46.9% in Australia, with a similar uptake observed in Greece (12%) [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herpes Zoster Vaccine Uptake and Active Campaign Impact, a Multicenter Retrospective Study in Italy

Ceccarelli,

Tamarri,

Angelini

et al. 2024

Vaccines

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The Herpes Zoster (HZ) vaccination has proven both safe and effective in alleviating conditions related to HZ, leading to significant cost savings in national healthcare and social systems. In Italy, it is recommended and provided free of charge to individuals aged 65 and older. To achieve broad vaccination coverage, alongside ordinary immunization campaigns, active and catch-up campaigns were implemented. This retrospective observational study aimed to observe the vaccination coverage achieved in the Romagna Local Health Authority (LHA) during the 2023 active campaign, with a secondary goal of assessing the impact of the 2022 catch-up campaign and the 2023 active campaign compared to ordinary campaigns. As of 3 July 2023, an overall vaccine uptake of 13.5% was achieved among individuals born in 1958, with variations among the four LHA centers ranging from 10.2% to 17.7%. Catch-up and active campaigns together contributed to nearly half of the achieved coverage in Center No. 1 and a quarter in Center No. 2. Notably, individuals born in 1957, not included in the Center No. 2 catch-up campaign, reached significantly lower vaccination coverage compared to other cohorts and centers. Analyzing the use of text messages for active campaigns, it was observed that cohort groups did not show substantial differences in text-message utilization for warnings. However, having relatives who had experienced HZ-related symptoms significantly reduced the reliance on text messages as warnings. These results highlighted how catch-up and active campaigns effectively increased vaccine coverage. Nevertheless, differences in uptake among different centers within the same LHA and the limited contribution of other information sources compared to text messages suggest the necessity of designing campaigns involving all available channels and stakeholders to maximize vaccine uptake.

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Herpes zoster vaccine awareness and acceptance among adults in Saudi Arabia: a survey-based cross-sectional study

Cited by 8 publications

References 16 publications

Public Perception in Saudi Arabia Toward Herpes Zoster and Its Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study

Public Perception in Saudi Arabia Toward Herpes Zoster and Its Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study

Knowledge About the Herpes Zoster (HZ) Vaccine and Its Acceptance Among the Population in Al-Ahsa City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Herpes Zoster Vaccine Uptake and Active Campaign Impact, a Multicenter Retrospective Study in Italy

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