The UK's new chickenpox vaccine: what changed in 2026

Published 15 October 2026 · Child Vaccine Tracker · How we check

For years the UK was one of the few wealthy countries that did not vaccinate children against chickenpox. That changed on 1 January 2026, when the routine schedule switched from the MMR vaccine to MMRV - the same measles, mumps and rubella protection, with chickenpox (varicella) added in the same injection.

What the schedule looks like now

1 year: first dose of MMRV.
18 months: second dose of MMRV, at a new appointment added to the schedule.
The second dose of measles, mumps and rubella protection used to be given at 3 years 4 months. It has moved earlier, to 18 months, for children born on or after 1 July 2024.

Which doses your child is offered depends on their date of birth, because the change is being phased in. Older children who were born before 2020 stay on the MMR vaccine, and some children in between are offered one or two doses of MMRV to catch up. Your GP surgery will contact you, and the UK page on this site shows the current schedule.

Why add chickenpox now?

Chickenpox is often thought of as a harmless rite of passage, but it is not always mild. It can lead to serious skin infections, pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, and it is dangerous for newborn babies, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and Germany have vaccinated against it for years, and the UK's vaccine advisers concluded that a routine programme would prevent a significant number of hospital admissions.

What about side effects?

Side effects are similar to MMR: soreness where the injection was given, and sometimes a fever or a mild rash in the following weeks. A few children get a small number of chickenpox-like spots. As with any vaccine, serious reactions are rare. See our chickenpox vaccine guide and MMR guide for more.

My child has already had chickenpox - do they still need it?

In the routine programme, children are offered MMRV whatever their chickenpox history, because it also carries the measles, mumps and rubella protection they need, and having had chickenpox before does not make the vaccine unsafe. The separate catch-up programme for older children is aimed at those who have not had chickenpox - your GP surgery can advise.

We are moving to or from the UK

Many countries give chickenpox vaccine at different ages, or as a separate injection from MMR. If you are moving, our moving-country guides compare the schedules side by side so you know what to expect.

Sources

Reminder: this article is general information, not medical advice. For your own child, speak to your GP, health visitor, practice nurse or paediatrician, and book vaccinations through your local service.