REVIEW   

Minerva Medica 2020 February;111(1):4-8

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.19.06412-7

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Herpes zoster: vaccination status and virtuous experiences

Silvia COCCHIO ¹ ✉, Tolinda GALLO ², Vincenzo BALDO ¹

¹ Unit of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; ² Department of Public Health, Udine Healthcare and University Integrated Trust, Udine, Italy

Herpes zoster (HZ) infection is widespread in the general population - especially in the elderly - and can be associated with major sequelae such as post-herpetic neuralgia. Live attenuated zoster vaccine was licensed in Europe in May 2006 and in Italy in 2010; since March 2014, it has been commercially available in Italy. In Italy, vaccination against HZV is recommended in all subjects at risk - for example, those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or patients on immunosuppressive agents - from the age of 50 years onwards and for all persons aged >64 years. This paper summarizes the virtuous experiences on the effectiveness of the HZ vaccine in the elderly, with a focus on the Italian scenario. Considering the current barriers to this immunization registered in some areas (difficulties of vaccine distribution, lack of physician recommendations, costs), proper educational and communication efforts should be pursued to guarantee a good coverage of HZ vaccination.

KEY WORDS: Herpes zoster; Herpes zoster vaccine; Vaccination; Italy