New figures show that 3,037 children and young people in England were admitted to hospital for chickenpox, prompting medical professionals to urge parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against the illness.
The data, published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covers hospital admissions for chickenpox – varicella – in under-18s. Additional monitoring of roughly a third of GP surgeries across England also recorded over 15,000 GP appointments for chickenpox among under-18s during the year, based on that sample.
Because many people with chickenpox are managed at home without medical involvement, the actual scale is considerably larger, the UKHSA warns. Anyone with the disease is advised to stay at home until the contagious period is over – usually about five days.
Young Children Most Affected
Children aged five and under suffered most severely, representing more than 70% of all clinical chickenpox cases reported to regional UKHSA Health Protection Teams. The highest hospitalisation rates were found among the youngest children, with those under one year old experiencing the most significant peak hospitalisation rates (5.8 compared with 2.3 per 100,000 among one to four year olds).
The report cautions that it reflects only a small portion of the actual national scale of chickenpox. It stated: "Last year, within a relatively small sample of 439 nurseries and primary schools 4,117 absences were recorded. Many parents also do not seek medical advice or treatment for the illness, which for many can be mild and managed at home, meaning many more cases will go unrecorded."
Vaccination Rollout
From 1 January 2026, protection against chickenpox has been added to the routine childhood immunisation schedule as part of a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Children are offered 2 doses, the first at 12 months old and the second at 18 months old, alongside their other routine vaccinations.
Dr Gavin Dabrera, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "Chickenpox might seem like a mild illness that children simply have to get through, but these figures reveal the true toll this nasty disease can inflict on children especially the very young, with thousands of hospital admissions and school absences every year.
"The good news is that children are now able to get protected against chickenpox as well as measles, mumps and rubella, through just two doses of the free NHS MMRV vaccine – given at 12 and 18 months. No parent wants to see their children needlessly suffering in hospital. That is why it's so important that all parents of eligible children, as well as the older catch-up groups, get their children vaccinated as soon as invited."
NHS Advice and Catch-up Programme
Chickenpox is a common infection that spreads easily and mostly affects children, according to the NHS. It usually gets better on its own after 1 to 2 weeks without needing to see a GP, but can be serious in some people. The primary indicator is an itchy, spotty rash, which can appear anywhere on the body. Prior to or following the appearance of the rash, sufferers may also experience a high temperature, aches and pains, generally feeling unwell, and loss of appetite.
The NHS adds: "Chickenpox happens in 3 stages, but new spots can appear while others are becoming blisters or forming a scab." It warns: "If you have chickenpox, you'll need to stay off school, nursery or work until all the spots have formed a scab. This is usually 5 days after the spots first appeared."
A selective catch-up programme is set to launch next month. From November 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028, a single dose of the MMRV vaccine will be offered to children born between January 1, 2020 and August 31, 2022 who have not previously had chickenpox, or 2 doses of the varicella vaccine. These children will already have received two MMR vaccines as part of their routine childhood immunisations.
Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Public Health and Patient Safety, said: "Chickenpox can be really unpleasant for children and, in some cases, lead to serious complications. We want every child to have the healthiest possible start in life, which is why we introduced the chickenpox vaccine into the routine childhood programme.
"I am encouraging every eligible family to make sure their child gets the MMRV vaccine, helping to protect them against chickenpox as well as measles, mumps and rubella."
