Millions of children to receive chickenpox vaccine on NHS
Free chickenpox vaccine to be offered to children for first time
- England's NHS is set to introduce a chickenpox vaccine from January 2026, integrating it into the routine childhood immunisation programme.
- The vaccine will be offered as part of a new combined MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) jab, eventually replacing the existing MMR vaccine.
- This initiative aims to protect around 500,000 children annually from severe chickenpox complications and reduce the burden on working parents.
- The rollout is expected to save the NHS £15 million a year in treatment costs and address the estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity caused by the illness.
- The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended the jab in November 2023, marking the first addition to the routine childhood vaccination programme since 2015.