Increasing Use of the Vaccine Against Herpes Zoster/Shingles at NYULMC and Bellevue Hospital

The purpose of this study is to determine if vaccination rate of eligible patients at a major urban public hospital will increase by having ophthalmologists screen patients for eligibility and a nurse administer the vaccine in the General Eye Clinic.

Patient vaccination behaviors will be assessed after 100 doses of the Zostavax vaccine are provided to underserved patients screened by ophthalmologists at the General Eye Clinic at a public hospital that does not normally provide the vaccine. A nurse will be at the clinic to administer the vaccine. Patients will be contacted by phone 1 month later and seen within 3 months in the Eye Clinic to determine whether there were any side effects.

All enrolled patients completed a survey of baseline characteristics, eligibility for the herpes zoster vaccine, and attitudes regarding herpes zoster vaccination. The survey results from patients who agreed to receive the herpes zoster vaccine were compared to the results of patients who declined to be vaccinated.

Inclusion Criteria: 60 years of age or older Absence of evidence of immune compromise in the medical record Ability to speak and read English, Spanish or Chinese and give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Vulnerable patients, including the cognitively impaired, prisoners and employee FDA contraindications for Zostavax vaccine

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