Free Chickenpox Vaccine to be Offered to All Children in England and Wales

Strategic Insights -

The NHS has announced that from January 2026, all young children in England and Wales will be offered a free chickenpox vaccine, also known as the varicella jab. The vaccine will form part of a new combined MMRV measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine, which will be offered to children in two doses at 12 and 18 months. The introduction of the vaccine aims to protect children from severe complications caused by chickenpox, as well as reducing the financial burden on families and the NHS.

Key Takeaways:

  • The chickenpox vaccine will be offered to all children in England and Wales from January 2026, replacing the MMR vaccine in the future.
  • The vaccine will be administered in two doses at 12 and 18 months.
  • The rollout of the vaccine is expected to save the NHS £15 million a year in costs for treating the illness.
  • Chickenpox causes an estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity every year in the UK.
  • The vaccine will be offered at GP surgeries, with the first dose given at 12 months and the second dose at 18 months.
  • The charity argues that the vaccine is a "life saver" for some, particularly babies, young children, and adults who are at risk of serious complications from the virus.
  • The UKHSA reported that none of the main childhood vaccines in England reached the 95% uptake target in 2024/25.
  • Uptake of the first MMR dose at 24 months stood at 88.9% in 2024/25, the lowest figure since 2009/10.

Statistics:

  • £24 million: Estimated cost of lost income and productivity every year in the UK due to chickenpox.
  • £15 million: anticipated annual savings for the NHS from treating the illness after the introduction of the vaccine.
  • 91.9%: Uptake of the first MMR dose at five years old in 2024/25, unchanged from 2023/24 and the lowest level since 2010/11.
  • 83.7%: Uptake of both MMR doses at five years old in 2024/25, down year on year from 83.9% and the lowest level since 2009/10.
  • 2009/10: The last time uptake of both MMR doses was lower than in 2024/25.
  • 2010/11: The last time uptake of the first MMR dose was higher than in 2024/25.

Sources:

  • Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
  • UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
  • Stephen Kinnock, Health Minister
  • Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UKHSA
  • UKHSA, UK vaccination statistics (2024/25)