2301. Increased Risk of Varicella-Associated Hospitalizations Among Adult Immigrants From Temperate and Tropical Countries After the Introduction of a Childhood Varicella Vaccination Program in Quebec, Canada

Background Varicella zoster virus (VZV) hospitalizations are an uncommon, severe and costly consequence of VZV. Childhood VZV vaccination leads to decreased VZV rates across all age groups through herd immunity but increases the age of VZV acquisition and the potential risk of severe VZV in non-immune adults. A large proportion (~15%) of young adult immigrants from tropical regions are susceptible to VZV due to different transmission dynamics in...