Update on trends in varicella mortality during the varicella vaccine era—United States, 1990–2016

Abstract

We reported previously that the annual average mortality rate in the United States in 2008–2011 for varicella listed as the underlying cause declined 87% compared with the prevaccine period (1990–1994). Here, we update the analysis with five additional years of data. We used varicella death data from the 2012–2016 Mortality Multiple Cause-of Death records to calculate mortality rates during 2012–2016 and trends since the prevaccine period and end of 1-dose vaccination program (2005–2007). The annual average age-adjusted mortality rate for varicella as the underlying cause was 0.03 per million population during 2012–2016, a 94% reduction from prevaccine years and a 47% reduction from 2005–2007. Varicella deaths continue to decline due to the varicella vaccination program in the United States.