NHS Introduces Chickenpox Vaccine Into Routine Childhood Immunisations

The NHS in the UK began offering the chickenpox vaccine to children as part of its standard immunisation schedule starting 2 January 2026. This marks the first time the vaccine has been routinely available to children through the NHS.

The new programme uses a combined vaccine known as MMRV, which covers measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox), replacing the previous MMR vaccine. The rollout follows recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in November 2023 to include a two-dose varicella vaccine in the UK’s childhood immunisation schedule.

Children born on or after 1 January 2025 are eligible to receive two doses of the MMRV vaccine, administered at 12 months and 18 months of age. For children born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024, the NHS will provide two doses, with the first at 18 months and the second at 3 years 4 months.

Those born between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024 will be offered a single dose at 3 years 4 months. Additionally, a catch-up programme is planned to provide a single dose to children born from 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2022.

What the numbers show

• The NHS expects to save £15 million per year in treatment costs
• Chickenpox in childhood leads to £24 million in lost income and productivity annually
• Hundreds of thousands of children are projected to be protected each year

The MMRV vaccine has been in use for many years in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, where it has been delivered safely and effectively. The UK’s adoption of this vaccine aligns with practices in these countries.

Chickenpox is generally mild in children, but it can sometimes result in serious complications that require hospital care. These complications may include chest infections, encephalitis, and, in rare cases, death.

The NHS stated that the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine is expected to reduce the number of cases and associated complications. The Department of Health and Social Care reported that childhood chickenpox results in substantial lost income and productivity for families across the UK each year.

The new immunisation schedule is designed to provide protection to a wide range of age groups through both routine and catch-up vaccination, aiming to reduce the overall impact of chickenpox on children and families.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.