Background
In the wake of COVID-19, a vaccine outreach program was designed in 2021. A component of this study involved assessing patients' attitudes toward receiving additional vaccinations in dermatology offices. The survey data showed high degrees of satisfaction with vaccines administered at the dermatology office, and 90.9% of patients stated they would receive other vaccines at their dermatology clinic if recommended and available. It is important to note that less than half of patients in the cohort who received COVID-19 vaccines (48.2%) had been vaccinated with a shingles (varicella zoster virus) vaccine despite being age-eligible. Patients view physicians as a trusted source of information regarding vaccines. We believe that after physician-directed education, patients may be more willing to receive a shingles vaccine. We sought to test this hypothesis, by collecting survey data to evaluate shingles vaccination rates and patients’ perspectives among individuals seen in a multipractice dermatology group. 
Methods
Patients who were eligible for vaccination and being seen by a resident physician were identified upon intake. The patients were surveyed before and after education about the shingles vaccine was provided. Education included resident-administered verbal education following the Center for Disease Control's vaccine information sheet. Survey data was recorded anonymously and is therefore IRB exempt. A total of 62 subjects were surveyed, and 59 surveys were completed.
Results
Only 24% of subjects had received the vaccine, despite being eligible to receive it. The most cited reason (27.8%) for being unvaccinated was that subjects had never been offered to receive it. Of the unvaccinated respondents, 53% initially indicated considering vaccination, and this increased to 69% post-education (p-value= 0.06). 88% of subjects who were unvaccinated and changed from “not considering” to “considering” vaccination attributed their decision to the educational materials.
Conclusion
We see vaccine availability as a major barrier to unvaccinated individuals. Provider directed education can mitigate vaccine hesitancy, as demonstrated in a 2022 study which showed the efficacy of physician recommendations in reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This study is limited by population size, and a greater difference would likely be shown if performed on a larger scale. We believe these results will nonetheless inform and provide support for the valuable role that dermatology practices can play in improving public health, specifically when it comes to shingles vaccination rates.

The Impact of Education in Reducing Shingles Vaccine Hesitancy in Dermatology

Dermatology (Public Health and Health Policy)

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The Impact of Education in Reducing Shingles Vaccine Hesitancy in Dermatology

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