Vaccination Coverage of Greek Adults Aged ≥60 Years in a Primary Health Care Setting in Relation to Lifestyle Factors and Health Care Services Utilization.

Publication date: Apr 27, 2026

Background/Objectives: Vaccination represents a significant achievement of public health and should be regarded not only as a protective measure against infectious diseases but also an active preventive intervention and a component of health promotion. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed vaccination coverage among adults aged ≥60 years who attended a Primary Health Care Center during a predefined period of at least two months (November-December 2025) in a rural area of Crete, Greece, and examined determinants of immunization, including demographic, clinical, psychosocial, and health service utilization factors. The sample comprised 366 participants who consented to complete a structured questionnaire, primarily via interview, followed by verification of vaccination status through medical records. Results: High vaccination coverage was observed for influenza (82. 5%), moderate coverage for pneumococcal (68. 3%) and herpes zoster (56. 0%) vaccines, and very low coverage for tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster doses (≈13%) and RSV vaccination (5. 2%). For SARS-CoV-2, 96. 2% received the three doses which were mandatory during the pandemic years. The overall Vaccination Coverage Score (VCS) averaged 43. 1/100, while only 10. 1% of participants achieved high coverage. Regression analysis showed that higher educational level, multimorbidity, and extensive use of health services were independently associated with better vaccination coverage (p

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