Protection against Chicken Pox

Protection against chickenpox for children from January 2026

From 1 January 2026, children started to be offered the MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella/chickenpox) instead of the MMR vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. This means children will receive protection against four diseases instead of three.

Why this matters

While many people consider chickenpox to be a mild childhood illness, it can lead to serious complications including bacterial infections such as strep A, brain and lung inflammation, and stroke. In rare cases, it can be fatal. The introduction of this vaccine will help protect children from these serious complications and reduce hospital admissions.

The MMRV vaccine has been safely used for over 10 years in countries including Canada, Australia and Germany, where chickenpox cases and hospital admissions have fallen dramatically. Introducing this vaccine will also reduce missed nursery and school days for children and families.

Who is eligible

• Children born from 1 January 2025: Two doses of MMRV at 12 months and 18 months

• Children born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024: MMRV doses at 18 months and 3 years 4 months

• Children born between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024: One MMRV dose at 3 years 4 months

• Selective catch-up programme: Children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 will be offered a catch-up dose between November 2026 and March 2028 if they haven't already had chickenpox or two doses of chickenpox vaccine

What families need to do

GP practices will contact parents and carers when their child is due for vaccination. They are encouraged to book their appointment when they receive their invitation.