Why Carry out This Study?

A decline in burden of pediatric varicella was observed in all countries after implementation of universal varicella vaccination (UVV), including Germany.

However, impact of UVV on different varicella-related complication (VRC) categories in children hospitalized with varicella is unknown in Germany to date.

What Was Learned from the Study?

Complication rates per hospital and year in children < 17 years declined by 77% from 6.7 [95% conficence interval (CI): 5.1–8.3] cases per hospital in 2005 to 1.5 (95% CI 0.8–2.3) cases in 2011. Highest reduction in cases was observed in children below 5 years (by 90%), the target group for UVV.

Gastrointestinal complications declined by 78% from 2005 to 2011, neurologic complications by 65%, skin complications by 81%, upper respiratory tract complications by 97% and lower respiratory tract complications by 90%.

UVV can significantly reduce the burden of varicella including societal costs.