Children offered vaccine for chicken pox

Advice and Information - 15 January 2026

Children under 6 will now be offered a vaccination against chicken pox.
A woman is holding a baby who is sitting up in a nappy, the women is wearing a stethoscope. A rainbow print is in the background.

As part of the NHS childhood vaccine programme, families can protect their children against chicken pox. 

GPs will offer the combined MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months, protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. 

Chickenpox is a common infection in children that spreads easily. It is usually mild but it can lead to serious complications which need hospitalisation, including chest infections and fits.

The combined MMRV vaccine has been safely used for decades and is already part of the routine vaccine schedules in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany, which have all seen significant decreases in cases of chicken pox and hospital admissions since introducing this vaccine. 

If you're a parent or carer of young children, you do not need to do anything. Your local GP surgery will contact you when your vaccinations are due. 

 

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

You might also be interested in