NHS to Offer Free Chickenpox Vaccine to Young Children from January 2026

From January 2026, the NHS in England and Wales will offer all children a free chickenpox vaccine as a two-dose course at 12 and 18 months, combined with the MMR jab.

A catch-up programme will include older children to ensure no one misses out. Until now, parents paid up to £200 for private vaccination against varicella.

Health ministers believe the free vaccine will prevent serious, although rare, complications and reduce the need for parents to take time off work. Chickenpox is estimated to cost the UK £24m annually in lost productivity.

Chickenpox rash

While usually mild, chickenpox can be severe in pregnant women, infants, adults, and those with weakened immunity, potentially causing encephalitis, pneumonitis or stroke.

The virus spreads through direct contact or airborne droplets, with symptoms starting like flu and followed by an itchy rash of fluid-filled blisters that crust over.

Experts say vaccination will dramatically cut cases and prevent serious illness. Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, called the vaccine "a life saver" for some.

Mother Sarah described her daughters' severe reactions last year, including hospital treatment and widespread spots, saying the vaccine would have spared them "an awful, terrifying" ordeal.

The varicella zoster virus remains in the body and can later cause shingles. Scotland and Northern Ireland plan to introduce the vaccine too.

Shingles, caused by reactivated VZV, cannot be caught from chickenpox patients but can transmit chickenpox to unvaccinated people. A shingles vaccine is available for certain age groups and vulnerable adults on the NHS.

Recent data show that no main childhood vaccine in England reached the 95% uptake target in 2024/25; MMR coverage for five-year-olds remained at 91.9%, the lowest since 2010/11.

Offering a free chickenpox vaccine is expected to prevent severe complications and reduce lost productivity, saving an estimated £24m a year in the UK.

This topic was reported by BBC.

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