Varicella prevention in Costa Rica: impact of a one-dose schedule universal vaccination

ABSTRACT

Introduction: To describe the impact following a 1-dose Varicella vaccination schedule introduced in Costa Rica in September 2007.

Areas covered: This is a retrospective review using epidemiologic surveillance national databases of varicella cases and hospitalizations, period 2000–2015. We analyzed age-related varicella incidence cases and hospitalization trends before and after the vaccine introduction.

Expert commentary: Varicella vaccine coverage among children 16 months age increased from 76% in 2008 to 95% in 2015. During this period Costa Rica reached a 73.8% reduction of Varicella reported cases and 85.9% reduction of hospitalizations in the general population. Among children under 5 years of age, that reduction was 79.1% and 87%, respectively. Varicella complications in hospitalized patients decreased 98%, from n = 53 in 2008 to n = 1 in 2014. After 8-years post implementation of a 1-dose schedule of universal varicella vaccination, a dramatic overall disease reduction in incidence, hospitalizations and complicated cases has been observed in all age groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Varicella vaccine
• impact
• vaccine introduction
• prevention
• Costa Rica
• Central America
• Latin America

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.