Varicella Disease After Introduction of Varicella Vaccine in the United States, 1995-2000

Abstract

Before the introduction of varicella vaccine in 1995,^1,2 varicella was a universal childhood disease in the United States.³ During the 5 years preceding implementation of the varicella vaccination program, the approximately 4 million cases that occurred every year resulted in an annual average of 11 000 hospitalizations and 100 deaths.^4,5 Since varicella is not a nationally reportable disease in the United States, national varicella surveillance data through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System were not available to monitor the impact of the varicella vaccination program.⁶ Accordingly, in 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local health departments, instituted an active surveillance project in 3 communities. The objectives of this ongoing project were to establish baseline data and to monitor trends in varicella disease following introduction of varicella vaccine. This report summarizes trends in varicella disease and the uptake of varicella vaccine in the surveillance areas from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2000.