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3/2025
vol. 27
CONTINUOUS MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME)
abstract:
Review paper
Vaccination against shingles. Recommendations of a group of experts from Polish scientific societies – update 2025
Ernest Kuchar
1
 ,
Justyna Ledwoch
2
,
Jacek Bil
3
,
Małgorzata Czajkowska-Malinowska
4
,
Robert Gil
3
,
Magdalena Kocot-Kępska
5
,
Irina Kowalska
6
,
Magdalena Krajewska
7, 8
,
Alina Kułakowska
9
,
Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas
10
,
Joanna Narbutt
11
,
Monika Nojszewska
12
,
Anna Przeklasa-Muszyńska
5
,
Konrad Rejdak
13
,
Lidia Rudnicka
14
,
Leszek Szenborn
15
,
Jacek Szepietowski
8, 16
,
Krzysztof Tomasiewicz
17
,
Jacek Wysocki
18, 19
,
Agnieszka Zmysłowska
20
,
Aneta Nitsch-Osuch
21
- Department of Pediatrics with Clinical Observation Unit, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Polish Society of Vaccinology
- Polish Society of Family Medicine, Poland
- Cardiology Department, National Medical Institute of the Internal Affairs and Administration Ministry, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Lung Diseases and Respiratory Failure, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Pulmonology Center, Bydgoszcz, Poland; Polish Respiratory Society
- Department for Pain Research and Treatment, Chair of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland; Polish Association for the Study of Pain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
- Division of Nephrology, Transplantology and Clinical Immunology, 4th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SPZOZ, Wroclaw, Poland
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Bialystok Bialystok, Poland
- Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; Polish Society of Family Medicine
- Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Chair and Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Polish Dermatological Society
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; Polish Society of Vaccinology
- Department of Dermato-Venereology, 4th Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SPZOZ, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology USK-1, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
- Department of Infectious Diseases with Observation Unit the Specialist Hospital of Mother and Child Health Care in Poznan, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Poznan, Poznan, Poland; The Polish Society of Vaccinology
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Polish Society of Family Medicine, Poland
Family Medicine & Primary Care Review 2025; 27(3): 360-369
Online publish date: 2025/09/29
PlumX metrics:
Herpes zoster affects approximately 117,000–142,000 people in Poland annually, and up to 30% of those affected develop post-herpetic neuralgia. Incidence rates and complications rise after 50 years in adults with chronic diseases or immunosuppression. The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) provides protection for at least 11 years and exhibits a favorable safety profile. To update the 2023 Polish multidisciplinary recommendations on HZ vaccination, an expert panel was convened by ten Polish scientific societies. The panel systematically reviewed literature from January 2019 to July 2025, national surveillance data, product characteristics, and international guidelines. The panel recommends: (1) routine two-dose RZV for every adult ≥ 50 years; (2) RZV for adults ≥ 18 years with congenital, acquired, or anticipated immunosuppression, haemato-oncological or solid-organ transplants; (3) vaccination of adults ≥18 years with chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, metabolic, neurological, rheumatological, or psychiatric disorders;
(4) vaccination of individuals with a history of HZ or with close contact to young children; (5) no serological confirmation of prior varicella; (6) complete the series after interruptions without restarting; (7) patient- and healthcare provider focused education. The authorized schedule is two doses, 2–6 months apart (a one-month interval is permissible before planned immunosuppression). From April 1, 2025, RZV is reimbursed at 50% for specified risk groups and is free for adults aged 65 years or older who fulfill the reimbursement criteria. The broad implementation of these 2025 recommendations is expected to substantially reduce the HZ burden and post-herpetic complications in Poland, particularly within primary care settings.
keywords:
immunosenescence, public health, policy, comorbidity, cost-effectiveness analysis
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