Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41150459›Full record

ReviewVaccines2025

Vaccination Against Herpes Zoster in Adults: Current Strategies in European Union Countries.

Manuela Chiavarini, Angela Bechini, Sara Boccalini, Alisa Barash, Enrica Castellana, Alessandro Senape, Paolo Bonanni

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Vaccines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Varicella zoster virus infection.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2026
    Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Manuela ChiavariniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3551-7486
Angela BechiniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6013-8779
Sara BoccaliniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9695-7549
Alisa BarashDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2397-3986
Enrica CastellanaDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Alessandro SenapeDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0009-0002-3223-5982
Paolo BonanniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2875-3744

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesHerpes zoster (HZ), caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation, significantly affects the functional status and quality of life of older adults and immunocompromised individuals. Vaccination represents an effective strategy to reduce the incidence of HZ.

methodsThis review offers a cross-sectional assessment of the current landscape of adult herpes zoster vaccination strategies across the 27 EU member states, drawing on data available up to July 2025 from official sources such as the ECDC, the WHO, and national health authorities.

resultsHZ vaccination is recommended in 17 EU countries (63%) according to the National Immunization Programs (NIPs) or by other institutional national health documents; in only 7 countries, vaccination is fully covered by the national healthcare system. HZ vaccination is recommended for healthy adults aged ≥50 years in 23.5% of countries (4/17), ≥60 years in 29.4% (5/17), and ≥65 years in 41.2% (7/17). At-risk groups are targeted in 94.1% of countries (16/17), predominantly from age 18 years (14 countries).

conclusionsAn overall tendency toward broader HZ vaccination strategies, targeting both older adults and risk groups, is emerging. However, differences among national policies, together with the European Commission's withdrawal of the live-attenuated Zostavax vaccine effective 1 June 2025, highlight the urgent need for comprehensive, harmonized immunization strategies to ensure adequate coverage of adult HZ vaccination across Europe.

Indexed as

elderlyimmunizationpreventionrecommendationrisk groupsshinglesvaricella zoster virus

Identifiers

PMID41150459
PMCPMC12567722

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.