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COVID-19

Shingles Vaccination Uptake Linked to Healthcare Access

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the University of Washington conducted a study to understand the factors contributing to the low uptake of shingles vaccines among older adults. The study, published in PLOS ONE, analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in Virginia from 2018, 2019, and 2021. The findings suggest that individuals with health insurance and access to a primary healthcare provider are significantly more likely to receive the shingles vaccine compared to those without such access.

Key Takeaways:

  • Shingles vaccination was substantially higher among individuals with healthcare access compared to those without, with a 35% vaccination rate among those with health insurance versus 10% among those without.
  • The study found that individuals with primary healthcare access had a 36% vaccination rate compared to 15% among those without access.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on shingles vaccination uptake, with a 41% vaccination rate during the pandemic period compared to 30% before the pandemic.
  • The study adjusted for confounders, including age, sex, and health status, to ensure accurate estimates.
  • The researchers concluded that the prevalence of shingles vaccination during the pandemic period was substantially higher compared with shingles vaccination before the pandemic.

Statistics:

  • Shingles vaccination rate among individuals with health insurance: 35%
  • Shingles vaccination rate among individuals without health insurance: 10%
  • Shingles vaccination rate among individuals with primary healthcare provider access: 36%
  • Shingles vaccination rate among individuals without primary healthcare provider access: 15%
  • Shingles vaccination rate during the COVID-19 pandemic: 41%
  • Shingles vaccination rate before the COVID-19 pandemic: 30%

Sources:

  • The Association Between Healthcare Access and Shingles Vaccination Among Older Adults In Virginia, United States. PLOS ONE, 2020;20(4). PLOS ONE can be contacted at: Public Library Science, 1160 Battery Street, Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA.
  • NewsRx. Researchers from University of Washington Describe Findings in COVID-19 (The Association Between Healthcare Access and Shingles Vaccination Among Older Adults In Virginia, United States). Managed Care Weekly Digest. May 19, 2025; p 209.

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