In the United States, VZV vaccine was licensed in 1995 and decreased the incidence of varicella by 85-90% in the decade following licensure as result of a vaccine coverage rate of about 80% [49]. Even though varicella incidence decreased most significantly in children aged 1-4 years, the incidence also declined nearly 75% among adults despite of low vaccination rates [50]. These data suggest that the universal childhood immunization, introduced also in Germany as the only country in Euro-
pe during 2004, has the potential to reduce the occurren-
ce of varicella in pregnant women through herd immun-
ity. However, recent publications demonstrate that varic-
ella during pregnancy is still a problem in many countrieswhich do not offer a routine universal childhood varicella immunization program [51,52]. In Italy, epidemiological data suggest that the risk of acquiring varicella during pregnancy is increasing [53]. Therefore, information prog-
rams are recommended to disseminate and to promote screenng and immunization against varicella in susceptible women of childbearing age [54].