Chickenpox Vaccine Added to Routine Childhood Vaccinations

From 1 January 2026, the NHS will start protecting children against chickenpox (varicella) as part of the routine vaccination programme. This means:

• Children will now receive a combined MMRV vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella) instead of the previous MMR vaccine.
• The MMRV vaccine will be given as part of the usual two-dose schedule for young children.

Catch-up Programme for Older Children

To help protect more children quickly, there will also be a one-dose catch-up programme for older children who haven’t had chickenpox or the vaccine. If your child is eligible, you’ll receive an invitation, and we encourage you to attend.

Adding chickenpox protection helps keep children healthier and reduces the spread of the illness in the community.

Learn more about the changes to the childhood vaccination schedule from January 2026

Published: Jan 7, 2026