Volume 224 - Published ahead of Issue 11

Short-Term Adverse Events Following Recombinant Zoster Vaccination in Older Adults in Australia: A Survey Study Comparing Dose 1 and Dose 2 and Influence of Dose Interval

Authors:  Lucy Dawes, Thuy Nguyen, Kristine Macartney, Lucy Deng

Correspondence: lucy.dawes@health.nsw.gov.au

Med J Aust 2026 || doi: 10.5694/mja2.70327
Published online: 26 October 2026

Abstract

Self-reported adverse events following first and second recombinant zoster vaccination (RZV) doses in older adults (n = 41,069) collected through AusVaxSafety were analysed. Adverse event rates were higher following Dose 2 (54%; 95% CI, 53%–54%) than after Dose 1 (45%; 95% CI, 45%–46%), particularly with 3–6- and 7–9-month dose intervals, although medical review rates remained low (1.1%; 95% CI, 1.0%–1.2%), suggesting RZV is reactogenic but with no serious outcomes.


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