title: Varicella hospitalizations in Los Angeles during the varicella vaccination era, 2003-2011: are they preventable?
abstract: Characteristics of varicella-related hospitalizations in the mature varicella vaccination era, including the proportion vaccinated and the severity of disease, are not well described. We present the vaccination status, severity and reasons for hospitalization of the hospitalized varicella cases reported to the Los Angeles County Health Department from 2003 to 2011, the period which includes the last 4 years of the mature one-dose program and the first 5 years after introduction of the routine two-dose program. A total of 158 hospitalized varicella cases were reported overall, of which 52.5% were potentially preventable and eligible for vaccination, 41.8% were not eligible for vaccination, and 5.7% were vaccinated. Most hospitalizations (72.2%) occurred among healthy persons, 54.4% occurred among persons ≥20 years of age, and 3.8% of hospitalizations resulted in death. Our data suggest that as many as half of the hospitalized varicella cases, including half of the deaths, may have been preventable given that they occurred in persons who were eligible for vaccination. More complete implementation of the routine varicella vaccination program could further reduce the disease burden of severe varicella.
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health Immunization Program, 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90001, United States. Electronic address: Anya.Agopian@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agopian
authors.affiliation: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop A-34, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health Immunization Program, 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90001, United States.
authors.forename: Dulmini
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health Immunization Program, 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90001, United States.
authors.forename: Vi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health Immunization Program, 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90001, United States.
authors.forename: Alvin Nelson
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: El Amin
authors.affiliation: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop A-34, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bialek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine
keywords: Severe varicella; Varicella complications; Varicella hospitalizations; Varicella vaccination
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