NHS Rolls Out First Chickenpox Vaccine Nationwide

The National Health Service (NHS) has launched a sweeping new initiative to protect millions of children across the United Kingdom from chickenpox, introducing the vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme for the first time. Beginning January 3, 2026, the chickenpox jab will be administered alongside the MMR vaccine, which already shields children from measles, mumps, and rubella. This change, hailed as a "historic milestone" by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, reflects years of expert recommendations and aims to reduce both the health and economic burden of the common childhood illness.

Chickenpox, caused by the varicella zoster virus, is often dismissed as a mild rite of passage for children. Yet, as the NHS and UK Health Security Agency have repeatedly warned, the disease can lead to serious complications, hospitalisations, and, in rare but tragic cases, death. According to the NHS, about half of children in the UK contract chickenpox by age four, and 90% by age ten. The highly contagious virus not only disrupts families—forcing children to miss school and parents to take time off work—but also places a significant strain on the healthcare system. In fact, the NHS estimates that chickenpox results in £24 million in lost income and productivity every year, with thousands of children requiring hospital care annually.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed the government’s commitment to tackling these challenges head-on, stating, “Today marks a historic milestone in protecting our children's health. For the first time, the NHS is offering chickenpox vaccination as part of our routine childhood immunisation programme. Many families have faced the threat of chickenpox, which can cause serious complications. The disease also brings significant worry and disruption, with children missing nursery or school and parents forced to stay home to look after them. This new protection will give parents reassurance that their children are protected from a disease that sends thousands to hospital every year.”

The decision to add chickenpox to the immunisation schedule follows a 2023 recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The combined MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) vaccine, which has been used safely and effectively in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany for decades, will now be offered to children in the UK at key intervals. Specifically, children born on or after January 1, 2025, will receive two doses—at 12 months and 18 months of age. Those born between July 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, will also be offered two doses, at 18 months and again at three years and four months. Meanwhile, children born between September 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024, are slated to receive a single dose at three years and four months. A catch-up programme is also planned later in 2026 for children born between January 1, 2020, and August 31, 2022, ensuring that as many children as possible benefit from this new protection.

Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, underscored the significance of the rollout. “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal. Beyond the health risks, chickenpox also places a significant burden on families. Parents often need to take time off work to care for their sick child, and children miss valuable time at school or nursery. With a vaccine now being introduced into the NHS Childhood Vaccination programme starting today, I hope parents will make it one of their new year resolutions to ensure their child takes up the offer, when invited. As the vaccine is a combined vaccine with MMR, your child will be protected against four serious diseases—measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. This vaccine has been used extensively for many years in a number of countries and has been shown to be highly effective with a good safety profile. The programme will have a really positive impact on the health of young children.”

For families, the vaccine rollout means more than just medical protection. Until now, parents wishing to immunise their children against chickenpox had to pay for the jab privately, often at a cost of around £150, unless their child was in close contact with someone at high risk, such as a parent undergoing cancer treatment. The new NHS programme eliminates this financial barrier and promises to save families the additional hassle of lost income from taking time off work. As Health Secretary Streeting put it, “Families will save both time and money—no longer facing lost income from taking time off work or having to fork out for private vaccinations. We are determined to give every child the best start in life. I urge all parents to take up this offer when their GP contacts them—vaccines save lives.”

Local GP surgeries are already reaching out to families, notifying them of their children’s eligibility and scheduling appointments. The process is being coordinated through letters, text messages, phone calls, and emails, aiming for maximum uptake and minimal confusion. According to Dr. Claire Fuller, National Medical Director for NHS England, “This is a hugely positive moment for children and their families, providing protection against chickenpox for the first time and adding to the arsenal of routine vaccinations we give to children to safeguard them against serious illnesses. From now, the combined vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox will be available at children’s routine vaccination appointments to keep children healthier and prevent sickness from these highly contagious viruses. The new vaccine will also help the health service move its focus from sickness to prevention, and keep more children safe and in school.”

Chickenpox complications, though rare, can be severe. In addition to the familiar itchy rash and fever, some children develop bacterial infections like group A streptococcus, encephalitis (a swelling of the brain), pneumonitis (lung inflammation), or even stroke. Very young infants and adults are at higher risk for these complications, which is why public health experts have long advocated for widespread vaccination. Professor Steven Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, welcomed the news, stating, “It is welcome news that a chickenpox vaccine is now being rolled out across England and the whole of the UK in order to protect children and young people. Vaccinations are proven to be a very effective way to protect children's health and prevent serious illness. Making sure your child is vaccinated is a vital step for parents and carers in keeping them safe.”

The economic benefits are also substantial. The NHS expects to save £15 million a year in direct treatment costs for chickenpox, while the broader economy stands to benefit from reduced absenteeism and productivity losses. The earlier schedule for the second MMRV dose—now at 18 months instead of three years and four months for some children—will provide earlier protection, reducing the window of vulnerability for young children.

As the programme rolls out, the UK joins a growing list of countries that have successfully integrated chickenpox vaccination into their childhood immunisation schedules, demonstrating both the safety and the effectiveness of the combined MMRV jab. Public health officials and medical professionals alike are encouraging parents to respond promptly when contacted by their GP, ensuring their children receive protection not just from chickenpox, but from a quartet of potentially serious diseases. With the NHS’s new approach, fewer children will miss out on school, fewer parents will be forced to rearrange their lives, and the country takes a major step forward in preventing avoidable illness.

With this comprehensive vaccination programme now underway, the UK signals its commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of its youngest citizens, promising a future where chickenpox is no longer a disruptive or dangerous part of growing up.