Free chickenpox vaccination to be made available
1 min read
Thursday 4 September 2025
The NHS has announced that from January 2026 young children in England will be able to get a free chickenpox vaccination.
GP practices will offer a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) as part of the regular infant vaccination schedule. Children will get the MMRV vaccine in two doses, at one year and at 18 months. Slightly older children who’ve just missed out will be offered the vaccine too, though the NHS hasn’t further announced details yet.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that children receive the free vaccine to prevent the severe – though rare – illness that chickenpox can cause. The vaccine programme will also prevent parents having to take time off work or resorting to booking an expensive private vaccine.
See our related information on infections and vaccinations.
