The attitude, knowledge, behavior and awareness ofindividuals over 65 years of age applying to an outpatientclinic in a university hospital on adult vaccination

Materials-Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted prospectively using face-to-face questionnaire technique on individuals over 65 years of age who applied to the Duzce University Department of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine outpatient clinics between March 2021 - July 2021 and agreed to participate in the study. Results: 485 people were included in the study. 51.1% of the patients are male. The mean age was 72.77 ± 6.74 years. The rate of chronic disease was determined as 87.4% (n=424). Vaccination rates; for general adult vaccination was 45.8% (n=204), for influenza vaccine was 30.7% (n=149), for pneumococcal vaccine was 23.7% (n=115), for hepatitis B vaccine was 5.7% (n= 28), for diphtheria-tetanus vaccine was 11.5% (n=56). The rate of those who had or are considering to have the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine was determined as 80.4% (n=390). It was determined that adult vaccines were made with the recommendation of a medical doctor at a rate of 68.78% and all vaccine types were mostly administered in family health centers. Conclusion: It is aimed to have adult vaccinations of almost all individuals over the age of 65 in the population. Vaccination rates and vaccine awareness of adults over the age of 65 are not at the targeted level. This situation increases the mortality and morbidity of infectious diseases due to their complications. Especially in the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases, serious problems may occur due to diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. Improving preventive health services and increasing vaccination rates play an important role in measures to be taken against infectious diseases. Although influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus vaccines are indicated in individuals over 65 years of age, vaccination rates were found to be low. Extensive research is needed on this subject. Key Words: Adult Vaccination, Chronic Disease, 65 years and older, Vaccination Awareness, COVID-19, Preventive Health Services