Important: VAERS reports alone cannot determine if a vaccine caused an adverse event. Reports may contain incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified information. Correlation does not equal causation.
4,237 adverse event reports (+19% vs 2014)
In 2015, 4,237 adverse event reports were filed for Varicella (Varivax) in VAERS. This represents 4.5% of all 93,126 reports for this vaccine.
Of these reports, 11 mentioned death, 83 involved hospitalization, 723 required ER visits, and 32 reported disability.
Compared to the average of 2,885 reports per year for this vaccine, 2015 was above average (+47%).
In 2015, reporting for Varicella (Varivax) was within typical ranges. As always, VAERS data reflects reports filed, not confirmed adverse events. Trends should be interpreted alongside vaccination volume and population health data.
| Year | Reports | Deaths | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,318 | 3 | 45 |
| 2024 | 1,657 | 9 | 33 |
| 2023 | 1,804 | 1 | 24 |
| 2022 | 1,791 | 2 | 21 |
| 2021 | 1,765 | 4 | 33 |
| 2020 | 1,740 | 3 | 48 |
| 2019 | 2,388 | 5 | 79 |
| 2018 | 2,729 | 3 | 56 |
| 2017 | 3,761 | 3 | 71 |
| 2016 | 4,159 | 5 | 83 |
| 2015 ← current | 4,237 | 11 | 83 |
| 2014 | 3,566 | 5 | 85 |
| 2013 | 2,810 | 5 | 80 |
| 2012 | 3,085 | 12 | 115 |
| 2011 | 3,582 | 15 | 144 |
| 2010 | 4,089 | 6 | 158 |
| 2009 | 4,780 | 21 | 171 |
| 2008 | 6,066 | 8 | 171 |
| 2007 | 4,766 | 11 | 160 |
| 2006 | 3,230 | 11 | 102 |
| 2005 | 2,818 | 12 | 113 |
| 2004 | 2,790 | 7 | 98 |
| 2003 | 1,964 | 5 | 110 |
| 2002 | 2,713 | 2 | 113 |
| 2001 | 2,841 | 13 | 148 |
| 2000 | 2,990 | 3 | 124 |
| 1999 | 2,801 | 14 | 107 |
| 1998 | 2,001 | 14 | 116 |
| 1997 | 2,518 | 6 | 68 |
| 1996 | 1,992 | 3 | 77 |
| 1995 | 689 | 1 | 38 |
This data comes from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), jointly managed by CDC and FDA.