To analyze the characteristics of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with varicella attenuated live vaccine (VarV) in Hebei province during 2012–2014, to evaluate the safety of VarV and to provide supportive evidences for planning chicken pox prevention and control strategies in Hebei province.

The AEFI data associated with VarV in Hebei province during 2012 to 2014 were collected from the national AEFI information management system and were analyzed by using the method of descriptive epidemiology.

A total of 239 cases reported during 2012 to 2014 were collected from the national AEFI information management system, with a male to female ratio of 1.44∶1. The estimated incidence rate was 25.51 per 100 000 doses. One case was serious AEFI with an incidence rate of 0.11 per 100 000 doses. Most of the AEFI cases were children under 3 years old and identified in scattered inhibiting children and kindergarten kids.The main symptoms of common vaccine reactions were fever, local swelling and induration. The rare vaccine reactions were presented as anaphylactic rashes.

The reported incidence rate of VarV associated AEFI in Hebei province was less than expected. However, the estimated incidence rate of common vaccine reactions in Hebei province was higher than that showed on the Analysis on Surveillance Data of Post-marketing Immunization Safety for Varicella Attenuated Live Vaccine in China, 2010–2012. Attentions to the AEFI after immunization with VarV should also be paid in future.

Varicella attenuated live vaccine; Adverse events following immunization; Surveillance