In a landmark move for public health, the National Health Service has begun rolling out a chickenpox vaccine for the first time. The programme, which started on Friday 2 January 2026, will see the jab offered to young children as part of the routine immunisation schedule.
A Long-Awaited Public Health Milestone
The introduction follows a 2023 recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The vaccine will be administered in combination with the established MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. This combined MMRV vaccine has been successfully used for years in other nations, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting hailed the rollout, stating it will "make a real difference for children and families." He emphasised the potential severity of the illness, noting: "While chickenpox can be irritable and difficult for children, it can also be extremely serious and occasionally even fatal."
Who is Eligible for the New Jab?
The NHS has outlined a clear eligibility schedule based on a child's date of birth. The programme is set to benefit hundreds of thousands of children in England alone from its start date.
Children born on or after 1 January 2025 will be offered two doses of the MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months old.
For those born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024, the schedule involves one dose at 18 months and a second at three years and four months.
Children born between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024 will be offered a single dose at three years and four months.
Furthermore, a single-dose catch-up scheme is planned for older children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022. NHS England has confirmed that General Practitioners will contact eligible families as part of the standard childhood vaccination programme.
Experts Welcome Enhanced Protection for Children
Health experts have warmly welcomed the NHS's decision. Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, highlighted the vaccine's proven track record, stating it "has been shown to be highly effective in other countries, with a good safety profile."
Dr Claire Fuller, national medical director for NHS England, added: "This is a hugely positive moment for children and their families, providing protection against chickenpox for the first time and adding to the arsenal of routine vaccinations we give to children to safeguard them against serious illnesses."
She also pointed to the wider societal benefits, noting the vaccine will "keep more children safe and in school". This is expected to reduce the burden on parents who previously had to take time off work to care for infected children, thereby supporting both educational attendance and workforce productivity.
