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Childhood Vaccination Schedule Change
The childhood vaccination schedule has been updated to include the MMRV vaccine, which protects children against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) in a single injection.
Below are answers to some common questions from parents:
Can my child have the MMRV vaccine if they’ve already had the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine privately?
Yes.
Your child can safely have the MMRV vaccine even if they have already received one or two doses of the chickenpox vaccine privately.
If your child had their first varicella vaccine privately, they can still receive MMRV as their second dose on the NHS—this must be at least 4 weeks after the first dose.
Will having three doses of varicella overload my child’s immune system?
No.
Children’s immune systems are extremely resilient and can handle far more than the number of vaccines they receive.
An extra exposure to the chickenpox component is safe, and it will not overload or harm their immune system.
Can parents request the MMR vaccine instead of MMRV?
No.
MMRV is now the only vaccine offered as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme.
The MMR vaccine is only used outside the routine schedule—for example, for older children catching up on missed vaccinations.
Is the MMRV vaccine safe?
Yes.
The MMRV vaccine has been thoroughly tested, is used safely in many countries, and is recommended by national health experts.
It provides strong protection against four illnesses in one injection.
Find out more
Published: Feb 27, 2026