Immunization Awareness in Geriatric Age Group: Missed Opportunities

Selda Aslan, Ahmet Şahin, Ibrahim Türkbeyler, Mehmet Göl and Hüseyin Gürbüz

Background and Objective: Due to low adult immunization rates, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs) are a major health problem, especially among older people. In this study, it was aimed to shed light on future solutions by determining the vaccination rates related to immunization over 65 years of age, determining the factors affecting vaccination in the elderly and analyzing the determinants of vaccine hesitancy/refusal. Materials and Methods: A total of 459 elderly people over 65 years of age were included in the study. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study between May, 1 and August, 31, 2022. A sum of 24 questions were put by the physicians in the questionnaire and those questions were asked in a face-to-face manner. Frequency and percentage distributions of categorical data were determined. The relationships of categorical variables were determined by Chi-square and Likelihood Ratio tests. Results: The mean age was 75.35±7.84 years. The 34.0% had received influenza vaccine, 29.2% had received tetanus vaccine, 27.9% had received only childhood vaccines and 14.6% had received hepatitis B vaccine. The 48.84% (215) of the elderly had received none dose of the hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, meningococcal or tetanus vaccines. When the distribution of the groups was analyzed, the vaccination rate was higher in those elderly who were in the age range of 65-74. The most common reason for not having been vaccinated was declared by the elders that they had not known they should be vaccinated (51.6%). Conclusion: While making arrangements to increase national immunization rates, systematic mechanisms for vaccination should be developed by making separate evaluations according to age groups, marital status, gender, educational status, social security status, occupation, place of residence and comorbid diseases. To reduce the reasons for vaccine hesitancy, the use of effective information channels, follow-up and national regulations are recommended.

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