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The UK has introduced a new combined vaccine offering protection against chickenpox for young children through the NHS for the very first time. This vaccine, known as MMRV, builds on the existing MMR immunisation given at 12 and 18 months of age, which safeguards against measles, mumps, and rubella. Children up to six years old will also be eligible for catch-up doses when invited. The addition of the varicella component, which targets chickenpox, is anticipated to significantly reduce the number of families impacted annually by this infection and prevent severe complications.
Starting from 1 January, the MMRV vaccine will be incorporated into the routine immunisation schedule across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with Scotland planning to begin rollout in early January as well. Chickenpox is a widespread illness among young children, characterized predominantly by an itchy, blistering rash that can cover the entire body, often accompanied by fever and muscle pain. It is highly contagious, with approximately 90% of children under ten contracting the virus at some point, leading to common absences from school or nursery. However, as Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam from the UK Health Security Agency points out, for some young children, infants, adults, and especially pregnant women, chickenpox can lead to serious health risks including hospitalisation, and in rare cases, even death. Potential complications range from bacterial infections of skin lesions to more severe conditions like encephalitis, pneumonia, and stroke.
One poignant example illustrating the dangers of chickenpox is the story of Maria Horton’s daughter, Beth, who suffered a stroke just weeks after contracting the illness at two and a half years old. Beth now faces lasting challenges such as limited use of her right hand, speech difficulties, and ongoing pain. Reflecting on her experience, Maria shared, “I know some people are hesitant about vaccines but if I’d known years ago what I know now, I wouldn’t hesitate to give her the vaccine. As a mum, if you could go back in time and stop something catastrophic happening to them, you absolutely would.” She hopes that by preventing others from enduring similar hardships, the vaccine rollout will make a substantial difference.
Health authorities have praised this development, with Dr Claire Fuller of NHS England calling it “a hugely positive moment for children and their families.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the vaccine introduction as a “historic milestone in protecting our children’s health” from a disease responsible for sending thousands of children to hospital annually. The MMRV vaccine has a long history of safe use in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, where it has led to fewer cases and severe outcomes from chickenpox. It provides around 97% protection after two doses and offers durable immunity. Following years of hesitation over cost and concerns about a possible increase in shingles cases — which research in the US has dispelled — the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended the vaccine for NHS use in November 2023. The expected benefits include savings both for families, who previously had to pay privately or lose income from caring for ill children, and the NHS, with an anticipated £15 million annual reduction in treatment costs.
The MMRV vaccine schedule will fully replace the current MMR jab. Children born after 1 January 2026 will receive two doses at 12 and 18 months automatically. Those born earlier will be offered catch-up doses depending on their birthdate, with some children receiving one or two additional vaccinations over the coming years. Children aged six or older by the end of 2025 are generally not eligible, as they are likely already to have had chickenpox. Families will be contacted by their GP surgeries to arrange vaccination appointments when it is their child’s turn to be immunised
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