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

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 i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2023-12, Vol.15 (12), p.e50329-e50329
Main Authors: Bohamad, Abdullah H, Alojail, Heba Y, Alabdulmohsin, Lujain A, Alhawl, Meshari A, Aldossary, Mishal B, Altoraiki, Fatimah M, Almulhim, Abdullatif Y, Almulhim, Abdullah, Alabdulathim, Shahd, Almarri, Fatimah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Chicken pox
Citizenship
Data collection
Demographics
Dermatology
Divorce
Education
Family/General Practice
Gender
Health promotion
Herpes viruses
Immunization
Income distribution
Information sources
Knowledge
Marital status
Medical Education
Polls & surveys
Questionnaires
Research ethics
Social networks
Vaccines
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.50329