Compliance with herpes zoster vaccination in young and adult individuals in two regions of Italy.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this work was to explore the knowledge and acceptance of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)-Herpes Zoster (HZ) vaccination in the general Italian population, where the HZ vaccine has not yet been distributed, using a prevalence study of subjects from two regions in Italy.


METHODS
A group of 3,173 individuals were interviewed using a questionnaire. The youngest age group (<or= 20 year) was composed of students interviewed at university. The middle age group (21-40 years) and the older age group (>or= 41 years) were interviewed by general practitioners in their office.


RESULTS
In both regions, the majority of subjects had been infected with varicella, and only 165 (5.2%) subjects reported receiving the VZV vaccination. Regarding HZ, 2,749 (86.6%) individuals stated that they knew of the virus and 2,233 (70%) were willing to be vaccinated against HZ. The majority of people willing to be vaccinated were in the middle and older age groups (36.6% and 44.7%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance versus vaccination results were satisfactory and probably, with the upcoming availability of the HZ vaccine in Italy, adults will be favourably disposed towards vaccination.
Parlato
Antonino
A
Epidemiology and Prevention Departmental Area, Local Health Agency NA2, Via Corrado Alvaro 8, 80074, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy.
Romano Spica
Vincenzo
V
Ciccozzi
Massimo
M
Farchi
Francesca
F
Gallè
Francesca
F
Di Onofrio
Valeria
V
Franco
Elisabetta
E
Liguori
Giorgio
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine