For the first time, a vaccine protecting against chickenpox is being made available on the NHS for children across the United Kingdom. The rollout begins today, integrating the jab into the routine childhood immunisation schedule alongside the established MMR vaccine.
Who is Eligible for the New Vaccine?
NHS England has outlined a phased approach based on a child's date of birth. The new combined vaccine, known as MMRV, protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox).
Children born on or after 1 January 2025 will be offered two doses at 12 months and 18 months of age. Those born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024 will receive their two doses at 18 months and three years and four months.
For older children, a catch-up programme is in place. Kids born between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024 will be offered one dose at three years and four months. Furthermore, the NHS plans a single-dose catch-up programme later this year for children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022.
Significant Benefits for Health and the Economy
Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection common in childhood. While often mild, it can lead to serious complications and, in rare instances, be fatal. The introduction of the vaccine is expected to have a substantial positive impact.
Health officials estimate the programme will save the NHS approximately £15 million annually in treatment costs. It is also projected to recover around £24 million per year in lost income and productivity, as parents frequently need to take time off work to care for ill children.
General practitioners will contact eligible families to schedule the MMRV vaccine as part of standard appointments. Hundreds of thousands of children are set to benefit from the jab starting immediately.
A Long-Awaited Rollout
This nationwide rollout follows the 2023 recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The combined MMRV jab has been successfully used for decades in other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, as a core part of their childhood vaccination programmes.
The move marks a significant step in public health for the UK, aiming to drastically reduce cases of chickenpox and its associated risks, while easing the burden on families and the healthcare system.
