As reported on wired.gov, children in England will be offered a free chickenpox vaccination for the first time from January 2025, as part of the NHS childhood immunisation programme
Under the new rollout, GP practices will provide eligible infants with a combined MMRV jab – protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (the medical term for chickenpox). It is the first addition to the routine childhood vaccination schedule since the MenB vaccine was introduced in 2015.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the programme will protect thousands of children from chickenpox each year, helping to reduce absence from school and work while also cutting NHS treatment costs. Research shows childhood chickenpox costs the UK economy an estimated £24 million a year in lost income and productivity. The new vaccination drive is forecast to save the NHS around £15 million annually in treatment costs.
Chickenpox, while often mild, can sometimes lead to serious complications including bacterial infections such as strep A, pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, stroke. The vaccine is expected to reduce cases significantly, as has been seen in countries like Germany, Canada and the United States, where similar programmes are already in place.
The government says the rollout supports its wider “Plan for Change,” which aims to create the healthiest generation of children yet by shifting the focus of healthcare away from sickness and towards prevention.
