Impact assessment of immunization and the COVID-19 pandemic on varicella across Europe using digital epidemiology methods: A descriptive study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Varicella is usually a mild disease in children but may be life-threatening, especially in adolescents and adults. Infection control measures implemented during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have suppressed varicella transmission, potentially creating an 'immunity debt', particularly in countries without universal varicella vaccination.

Objectives

To assess trends in Google search engine queries for varicella keywords as a proxy for varicella infection rates and to evaluate the effect of universal varicella vaccination on these trends. A further objective was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on varicella keyword search query trends in countries with and without universal varicella vaccination.

Methods

This study used the

SUBMITTER: Sabale U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10096188 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature