Chickenpox Infection Rates After 1995: A Decline Explained

After 1995, the rate of chickenpox infections significantly declined in countries where the varicella vaccine was introduced. For example, in the United States, the incidence of chickenpox decreased by more than 90% between 1995 and 2019, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, chickenpox was a common childhood illness, with nearly everyone in the United States getting the disease at some point. The vaccine has been highly effective in preventing chickenpox, as well as reducing the severity and complications of the disease.