Australia’s national zoster vaccination program: Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of general practitioners

Authors

  • Harunor Rashid National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Aditi Dey National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Ramesh Manocha Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;Healthed, PO Box 500, Burwood, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Mohamed Tashani National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Kristine Macartney National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Frank Beard National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Kids Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2020.44.59

Keywords:

general practitioner, herpes zoster, immunocompromise, national zoster vaccination program, post-herpetic neuralgia, zoster vaccine

Abstract

Objectives

To assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of Australian general practitioners (GPs) regarding herpes zoster vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) from 2016 for adults aged 70–79 years.

Design, setting, participants

National cross-sectional online survey of GPs, October–November 2017.

Outcome measures

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding zoster vaccination, including challenges experienced and recommendations for improvement.

Results

Of the 1026 GPs who responded (response rate 7.9%), 98.5% were aware that zoster vaccine is NIP-funded for adults aged 70–79 years and 85.4% that it is recommended for age 60–69 years; however, 51.3% incorrectly thought it is routinely recommended for age 50–59 years. A minority (4.6%) incorrectly believed that being immunocompromised is not a contraindication to zoster vaccination and 16.0% that it cannot be co-administered with influenza or pneumococcal vaccine. Almost half (48.9%) rarely or never reported zoster vaccination data to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Challenges perceived included lack of adequate information on vaccine contraindications; efficacy and safety concerns; and difficulty applying age criteria for NIP eligibility in general practice. Respondents indicated a desire for program expansion to include younger and older adult age groups.

Conclusion

This Australian GP survey, conducted one year after the introduction of the national zoster vaccination program, identified some knowledge gaps. A repeat survey of GPs is warranted to determine whether these issues persist, particularly regarding contraindication to vaccination for immunocompromised individuals. We encourage all GPs to offer zoster vaccination in line with current Australian evidence-based guidelines, particularly for the NIP-funded 70–79 years cohort; ensuring compliance with relevant contraindications; and reporting to AIR.

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Published

15/07/20

How to Cite

Rashid, Harunor, Aditi Dey, Ramesh Manocha, Mohamed Tashani, Kristine Macartney, and Frank Beard. 2020. “Australia’s National Zoster Vaccination Program: Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour of General Practitioners ”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 44 (July). https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2020.44.59.

Issue

Vol. 44 (2020)

Section

Original article

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