Chickenpox Vaccine Offers Free to Kids on NHS for First Time – All You Need to Know

Health has deeded to add the Vaccine Against the Varicella Zoster Virus to the Existting Combined Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Jab Starting from January

Children will be offended a chickenpox vaccine on the nhs for the first time from January.

Health chiefs have decidented to add the Vaccine Against the Varicella Zoster Virus to the Existting Combined Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) JAB. It comes as childhood vaccination rates are plummeting and the uk Health Security Agency (Ukhsa) Warns Many Children Will Be Starting Primary Unprotected Against a Range of Serious Diseases.

Chickenpox is Common and Usamely Mild, Getting Better on Its Own, but in Rare Cases CAN DEVELOP Complications Such As Bacterial Infections Like Group A Strep. The Virus Can Cause Swwelling of the Brain, Serious Lung Inflammation and Stroke and in Very Rare Cases Lead to Death.

Read More: Early Signs of Chickenpox Parents Need to Be on High Alert for This Winter – Full List

Unil now parents Concerned About Chickenpox have had to pay around £ 150 at private clinics for their child to be vaccinated against it. Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Ukhsa Deputy Director of Immunisation, Said: “Most Parents Probably Consider Chickenpox to Be A Common and Mild Illness, But for Some Babies, Young Children and Eve Adults, Chickenpox Can Be Veryious, Leading to Hospital and ADMISSION AND tragically, while rare, it can be fatal.

“It is excellent news, that from next Januy, we will be introding a vaccine to protest against chickenpox into the nhs routine childhood Vaccining programme – helping prevents what is for a nasty illness for those who came ate Life Saver. “

The Chickenpox Vaccine – ALSO KNOWN AS The Varicella Jab – Will Form Part of a New Combined MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella) Vaccine. It will be offended at Gp Practices from January 2026, and is expensive to offer to ARUND 500,000 at risk children of years. The nhs is yet to decide what the eligibility Criteria will be. The mmrv will eventually replace the mmr, which is offered to babies at 12 months and 18 months.

It is the first time protection aging another dessea has been added to the routine childhood Vaccining SINCE 2015. The Announcement Comes as the Ukhsa Revealed None of the Main Childhood Vaccines in England Reached the 95% UPTAKE TARGET IN 2024/25. Some 91.9% of Five-Yaar-Olds HAD Received One Dose of the Mmr Vaccine, Unchanged From 2023/24 and the Lowest Level Since 2010/11.

JUST 83.7% of Five-Yaar-Olds Had Received Both MMR Doses, Down Year on Year from 83.9% and the Lowest Level Since 2009/10. UPTAKE OF THE FIRST MMR DOSE AT 24 MONTHS STOOD AT 88.9% IN 2024/25 – Unchanged on the Previous Year, But Again The Lowest Figure Since 2009/10.

Dr. Mary Ramsay, Ukhsa Director of Immunization, Said: “Far too Children Will Not Be Fully Protected and Safe to Starting School and Are at Risk of Serious Diseases, Such As Measles and Whooping CUGH, that have in recent outbreaks. Meas Infectious Disease, is the ‘Canary in the Coalmine’ and a Wake-Up call that urgent action is Needed to stop the real risk of other otases re-emerging.

“Parents Should Check their Children Are Up to Date with All Their Jabs and, If Not, Contact Their Gp Practice As Son as Possible.” The Chickenpox Vaccine is Already Part of the Routine Vaccine Schedules in A Number of Countries, Including Germany, Australia, Canada and the US.

Accounting to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Chickenpox causes an estimated £ 24 million in Lost Income and Productivity EveryIar in the UK, with strength to take work to work for their children. The Rolout of the Vaccine is Also Expped to Save the NHS £ 15 Million A Year in Costs for Treating the Illness.

Health Stephen Kinnock Said: “We’re giving parses the power to protest their children chickenpox and its serial complications, while keping say in Nurssery or the Classroom waist and Preventing Parents from Scrambling for Childcare or Miss Miss Miss Miss. Vaccine Puts Children’s Health First and Giives Working Families the Support they deserts. “