OBJECTIVES::  Universal vaccination against varicella began in September 2013, in Brazil, through the National Immunization Program. After this incorporation, it was expected that annual rates of hospitalization for varicella have decreased. This study aimed to assess the burden of hospitalizations by varicella from 2014. METHODS::  A retrospective analysis of Brazil public hospital admissions by varicella was developed according to ICD-10 classification (B01.0 to B01.9) in all ages, as reported in Brazilian Hospital Information System (SIH/DATASUS) database from January 2014 to December 2016. RESULTS::  Hospital admissions by varicella were 5382, 4093 and 3898 in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, with total costs for this period of 11,641,343 BRL. Hospitalizations occurred more frequently in children. In the period evaluated, 53% of admissions occurred with children under 9 years of age. There was an average of 312 deaths per year, with almost all related to pulmonary complications. In children and adolescents (<20 years of age), 76% occurred in individuals under 5 years of age. Mean cost per admission was 735 BRL, 1402 BRL, 430 BRL and 247 BRL for central nervous system complications, respiratory complications, other complications (including keratitis) and varicella without complications, over the three year period. The mean overall length of stay was 6 days, with 7 days for neurological and pulmonary complications, 6 for other complications, and 4 for varicella without complications. CONCLUSIONS::  In Brazil, epidemiological data on varicella are very restricted as this is not a compulsory notification disease. Our results demonstrated that three years after the implementation of this vaccine, its impact on varicella-related hospitalizations is still relevant. In this way, a routine 2-dose vaccination could provide improved protection against disease and further reduce morbidity and mortality from varicella.