Vaccine targeting chickenpox launched

An important childhood vaccination, known as MMRV has been launched this month along with key changes to the childhood immunisation schedule.

Health chiefs want parents and guardians to be aware that MMRV - a combined vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) – is replacing the older MMR vaccine by adding protection against chickenpox.

For most children chickenpox is mild, but it can lead to serious complications for some with the highly contagious illness causing an itchy rash of fluid-filled blisters, usually in children although it can also affect adults, including pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised.

“The MMRV vaccine will be available as part of the childhood routine 2-dose vaccination schedule,” explains Steph Hart, Assistant Locality Lead – Vaccination Programme, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

This means children turning one year from January 1, 2026 will be offered two doses – one at 12 months and a second at 18 months.”

There will also be a single dose MMRV catch up programme for older children starting later in the year to reduce transmission of chickenpox in the population.

Steph explained: “Children aged over 1 year to under 18 months at December 31, 2025 will be offered two doses of MMRV – one at 18 months and a second at 3 years 4 months. While children aged 18 months to under 3 years 4 months as of  December 31, 2025  will be offered a single dose of MMRV at 3 years 4 months.

“Older children – those aged 3 years 4 months to under 6 years as of December 31 2025 – will be able to have the MMRV vaccine during a catch-up programme due to be run between 26 November 2026 and 31 March 2028.

The change to the childhood immunisation schedule as a result of the introduction of the new MMRV vaccine will protect around half a million children each year against measles, mumps, rubella, and now chickenpox too.

Parents should be invited by their child’s GP surgery for the MMRV jab around the youngster’s first birthday and then at 18 months.  Older children who missed doses will be able to get them at their GP surgery or possibly within school.