The National Health Service has today embarked on a major new chapter in childhood immunisation, launching a vaccine against chickenpox for all children for the very first time.
In what Health Secretary Wes Streeting described as a "historic milestone", the jab will be integrated into the UK's established child vaccination schedule. It will be administered as part of a new combined MMRV vaccine, which also protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
A New Layer of Protection for Young Families
From Friday, 2nd January 2026, the rollout across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will make hundreds of thousands of children eligible for the new protection. General practitioners will begin contacting families to offer the jab as part of the routine programme.
While often considered a common childhood illness, chickenpox, caused by the varicella zoster virus, can lead to severe complications. "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," explained Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The disease also causes significant disruption, with children missing school or nursery and parents having to take time off work for care.
Implementation and Eligibility for the MMRV Vaccine
The NHS announcement confirms that the UK and devolved governments have accepted a 2023 recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The implementation schedule is as follows:
- Children born on or after 1 January 2025 will receive two doses of the MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months.
- Children born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024 will be offered two doses at 18 months and 3 years and 4 months.
- Children born between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024 will get one dose at 3 years and 4 months.
- A single-dose catch-up programme is also planned later in 2026 for children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022.
Until now, parents concerned about the virus had to seek private vaccination at a cost of around £150 per child. The NHS previously only offered the jab to children in close contact with someone at high risk, such as a parent undergoing cancer treatment.
Proven Safety and a Positive Health Impact
The combined MMRV vaccine is not new; it has been used successfully for decades in other nations including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany. Dr Amirthalingam emphasised its "highly effective" nature and "good safety profile", predicting the programme will have a "really positive impact on the health of young children."
Serious complications from chickenpox, though rare, can include bacterial infections like group A streptococcus, encephalitis (brain swelling), pneumonitis (lung inflammation), and strokes. Infants under four weeks and adults are at higher risk.
Professor Steven Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, welcomed the rollout: "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."
This landmark public health initiative marks a significant step forward in preventing a widespread childhood illness and its associated risks, offering reassurance to families across the UK.
