Bardsley, Megan 
ORCID: 0000-0002-9690-6493, Loveridge, Paul, Bednarska, Natalia G ORCID: 0000-0002-2623-2120, Smith, Sue ORCID: 0000-0002-1066-5175, Morbey, Roger A ORCID: 0000-0001-8543-477X, Amirthalingam, Gayatri ORCID: 0000-0003-2078-0975, Elson, William H ORCID: 0000-0002-8630-1378, Bates, Chris ORCID: 0000-0003-0113-2593, de Lusignan, Simon ORCID: 0000-0002-8553-2641, Todkill, Daniel ORCID: 0000-0002-4325-4786 et al (show 1 more authors)
(2023)
The Epidemiology of Chickenpox in England, 2016-2022: An Observational Study Using General Practitioner Consultations.
Viruses, 15 (11).
2163-.
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The Epidemiology of Chickenpox in England, 2016-2022 An Observational Study Using General Practitioner Consultations.pdf - Open Access published version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Chickenpox is a common childhood disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV vaccination is not part of the UK childhood immunisation programme, but its potential inclusion is regularly assessed. It is therefore important to understand the ongoing burden of VZV in the community to inform vaccine policy decisions. General practitioner (GP) chickenpox consultations were studied from 1 September 2016 to 9 December 2022. Over the study period, the mean weekly chickenpox consultation rate per 100,000 population in England was 3.4, with a regular peak occurring between weeks 13 and 15. Overall, rates decreased over time, from a mean weekly rate of 5.5 in 2017 to 4.2 in 2019. The highest mean weekly rates were among children aged 1-4 years. There was no typical epidemic peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2022, rates were proportionally higher among children aged < 1 year old compared to pre-pandemic years. Chickenpox GP consultation rates decreased in England, continuing a longer-term decline in the community. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted rates, likely caused by the introduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The lasting impact of the interruption of typical disease transmission remains to be seen, but it is important to monitor the chickenpox burden to inform decisions on vaccine programmes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Humans, Herpesvirus 3, Human, Chickenpox, Herpes Zoster, Chickenpox Vaccine, Child, Preschool, Infant, England, General Practitioners, Pandemics, COVID-19 |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Dec 2023 16:47 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Dec 2023 16:47 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/v15112163 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.3390/v15112163 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3177615 |
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