Herpes zoster vaccine effectiveness against herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in New Zealand: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ) and associated complications cause significant burden to older people. A HZ vaccination programme was introduced in Aotearoa New Zealand in April 2018 with a single dose vaccine for those aged 65 years and a four-year catch up for 66–80 year-olds. This study aimed to assess the ‘real-world’ effectiveness of the zoster vaccine live (ZVL) against HZ and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). METHODS: We conducted a nationwide retrospective matched cohort study from 1 April 2018 to 1 April 2021 using a linked de-identified patient level Ministry of Health data platform. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate ZVL vaccine effectiveness (VE) against HZ and PHN adjusting for covariates. Multiple outcomes were assessed in the primary (hospitalised HZ and PHN – primary diagnosis) and secondary (hospitalised HZ and PHN: primary and secondary diagnosis, community HZ) analyses. A sub-group analysis was carried out in, adults ≥ 65 years old, immunocompromised adults, Māori, and Pacific populations. FINDINGS: A total of 824,142 (274,272 vaccinated with ZVL matched with 549,870 unvaccinated) New Zealand residents were included in the study. The matched population was 93.4% immunocompetent, 52.2% female, 80.2% European (level 1 ethnic codes), and 64.5% were 65–74 years old (mean age = 71.1±5.0). Vaccinated versus unvaccinated incidence of hospitalised HZ was 0.16 vs. 0.31/1,000 person-years and 0.03 vs. 0.08/1000 person-years for PHN. In the primary analysis, the adjusted overall VE against hospitalised HZ and hospitalised PHN was 57.8% (95% CI: 41.1–69.8) and 73.7% (95% CI:14.0–92.0) respectively. In adults ≥ 65 years old, the VE against hospitalised HZ was 54.4% (95% CI: 36.0–67.5) and VE against hospitalised PHN was 75·5% (95% CI: 19.9–92.5). In the secondary analysis, the VE against community HZ was 30.0% (95% CI: 25.6–34.5). The ZVL VE against hospitalised HZ for immunocompromised adults was 51.1% (95% CI: 23.1–69.5), and PHN hospitalisation was 67.6% (95% CI: 9.3–88.4). The VE against HZ hospitalisation for Māori was 45.2% (95% CI: −23.2–75.6) and for Pacific Peoples was 52.2% (95% CI: −40.6 –83·7). INTERPRETATION: ZVL was associated with a reduction in risk of hospitalisation from HZ and PHN in the New Zealand population. FUNDING: Wellington Doctoral Scholarship awarded to JFM.