Effect of Earlier Vaccination and a Two-Dose Varicella Vaccine Schedule on Varicella Incidence - Beijing Municipality, 2007-2018.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: The World Health Organization (WHO) varicella vaccines position paper states that countries where varicella is an important public health burden could consider introducing varicella vaccine (VarV) in the routine childhood immunization program (1). VarV has been available for many years in China but is not included in most routine immunization programs in China. As a result, substantial heterogeneity in vaccination coverage exists across regions.

WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: In Beijing, adding a second dose of VarV for children and increasing coverage reduced the incidence of varicella. Lowering the age of the first dose of VarV to 12 months could further reduce varicella, especially among toddlers.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: Governments should use economic analysis to consider inclusion of VarV into the routine children immunization program as a free vaccine and adopting a 2-dose schedule that starts at 12 months of age.