Survey on public awareness, attitudes, and barriers for herpes zoster vaccination in South Korea

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the subjects interviewed (N = 603)

		Aged ≥50 y	Aged 19–49 y
	Total	(N = 359)	(N = 244)	p-value
Gender
Male	271 (44.9%)	158 (44.0%)	113 (46.3%)	0.577
Female	332 (55.1%)	201 (56.0%)	131 (53.7%)
Mean number of y of education
(mean ± SD)	12.1 ± 4.0	10.4 ± 4.1	14.6 ± 2.2	<0.001
Mean level of income ($)*	2934 ± 1750	2441 ± 1675	3640 ± 1608	<0.001
Presence of comorbidities	N/A	160 (44.6%)	N/A	N/A
History of vaccination since adulthood	N/A	246 (68.5%)	N/A	N/A

* US $1 = KR ₩1,000.

N/A, not applicable; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2. Self-reported history of HZ, having witnessed others with HZ, awareness of HZ, and awareness of HZ vaccination, according to age group

	Total	Aged ≥50 y	Aged 19–49 y
	N (%)	n (%)	n (%)	p-value
History of HZ	100/511 (19.6%)	72/293 (24.6%)	28/218 (12.8%)	0.001
Had witnessed someone with HZ	350/516 (67.8%)	218/297 (73.4%)	132/219 (60.3%)	0.025
Was aware of the HZ vaccine	225/516 (43.6%)	152/297 (51.2%)	73/219 (33.3%)	0.034
Was aware that the HZ vaccine had been licensed for individuals aged ≥50 y*	89/222 (40.1%)	69/150 (46.0%)	20/72 (27.8%)	0.010

The total numbers are not consistent between questions as some interviewees did not complete the entire questionnaire.

* Subjects among those who were aware of HZ vaccine answered this question.

HZ, herpes zoster.

Table 3. Acceptance of HZ vaccination after specific conditions, stratified by epidemiologic characteristics

	Would you be vaccinated against HZ? (yes)^†	After reading offered information, would you be vaccinated? (yes)^†	Would you be vaccinated considering the present cost? (yes)^†	Would you be vaccinated if your doctor recommended it? (yes)^†
Total^§	440/513 (85.8%)	471/512 (92.0%)	306/513 (59.6%)	443/510 (86.9%)
Age
<50 y	198 (90.4%)*	211 (96.3%)*	180 (82.2%)*	210 (95.9%)*
50–69 y	190 (85.2%)*	204 (91.5%)*	108 (48.4%)*	184 (83.3%)*
≥70 y	52 (73.2%)*	56 (80.0%)*	18 (25.4%)*	49 (70.0%)*
Gender
Male	189 (87.5%)	202 (92.7%)	138 (63.0%)	189 (87.1%)
Female	251 (84.5%)	269 (91.5%)	168 (57.1%)	254 (86.7%)
Education
Incomplete high school education	104 (78.2%)*	112 (85.5%)*	48 (36.6%)*	97 (74.0%)*
College education	333 (88.6%)*	355 (94.2%)*	254 (67.2%)*	342 (91.2%)*
Monthly household income
<US $5,000	325 (84.2%)	352 (91.4%)	212 (54.9%)*	330 (85.9%)
≥US $5,000	96 (90.6%)	102 (95.3%)	82 (76.6%)*	98 (91.6%)
GEE (OR) [95% CI]	N/A	2.08 [1.53–2.84]^*	0.10 [0.07–0.14]^*	5.91 [4.44–7.77]^*

* p < 0.05.

^§Ninety subjects were excluded in this table due to missing values and the numbers are not consistent between questions as some interviewees did not complete the entire questionnaire.

GEE, generalized estimating equation; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; N/A, not applicable.

^†For subjects aged <50 y, the questions were modified as “Would you allow HZ vaccination to your parents following condition?”

Figure 1. Impact of knowledge, cost, and physician's recommendation on the intention to be vaccinated (A), or allowing parents to be vaccinated (B) against HZ among subjects who had heard of HZ (1A, subjects aged ≥50 y; 1B, subjects aged 19–49 y). Numbers in white boxes indicate the percentage of subjects who mentioned that they would be vaccinated or allow their parents to be vaccinated against HZ and those in black boxes indicate the percentage of subjects who mentioned that they would not be vaccinated or not allow their parents to be vaccinated against HZ. HZ, herpes zoster.

Figure 2. Impact of knowledge, cost, and physician's recommendation on the intention to be vaccinated (A), or allowing parents to be vaccinated (B) against HZ among subjects who had never heard of HZ (2A, subjects aged ≥50 y; 2B, subjects aged 19–49 y). Numbers in white boxes indicate the percentage of subjects who mentioned that they would be vaccinated or allow their parents to be vaccinated against HZ and those in black boxes indicate the percentage of subjects who mentioned that they would not be vaccinated or not allow their parents to be vaccinated against HZ. HZ, herpes zoster.