Willingness to accept herpes zoster vaccines and the influencing factors in China.

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster increases the burden on the elderly in an aging society. Although an effective vaccine licensed by China Food and Drug Administration in 2019 was introduced into the market in June 2020, the willingness and influencing factors of herpes zoster vaccines in Chinese adults ≥ 50-years-old during coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic are yet to be elucidated.

METHODS: An online questionnaire survey was conducted using a simple random sampling method in October 2021 for viewers of the broadcast program. A binary logistic regression and multiple response analysis were conducted for herpes zoster vaccine and vaccination willingness. Pareto's graphs were plotted to present the multiple-choice questions of influencing factors.

RESULTS: A total of 3838 eligible participants were included in this study. Among them, 43.02% intended to be vaccinated, including 10.34% self-reported about receiving at least one shot of shingles vaccine, 30.22% declined, and 26.76% were hesitant. This population comprised a large proportion of middle-aged and older people (≥ 50-years-old) who have not experienced an episode of herpes zoster (54.98%) or are unaware of the virus (33.22%). The strongest determinants of vaccine hesitancy among older people were education background of Master's degree or above compared to senior high or equivalent and below, personal monthly income < 3000 RMB compared to 3000-5999 RMB, and living in a rural area.

CONCLUSIONS: The willingness to get shingles vaccines can be improved further. Professional education and credible recommendation might prompt the elderly to improve their willingness and reassure them of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Also, accessibility and affordability should also be improved in the future.