What the Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine protects against
Prevents chickenpox: an itchy blistering rash with fever. Usually mild, but can cause serious skin infection, pneumonia, or inflammation of the brain, and is dangerous for newborns and people with weak immune systems.
Also known as: Varivax, Varilrix
Why children are given it
Routine in the US, Germany, Australia and elsewhere to prevent the complications and hospital admissions, and to protect vulnerable contacts. Some countries instead offer it only to susceptible teenagers and at-risk groups.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1 year (12-13 months) (1st of 2) MMRV vaccine 18 months (2nd of 2) MMRV vaccine 3 years 4 months (1st or 2nd dose (older cohorts))
MMRV vaccine (catch-up) |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 12 to 15 months (1st of 2) Varicella (chickenpox) 4 to 6 years (2nd of 2)
Varicella (chickenpox) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 12 months (1st of 2) Varicella (chickenpox) 18 months (2nd dose) MMR or MMRV (2nd dose, province dependent) 4 to 6 years (2nd dose)
MMR / varicella (2nd dose, if not given at 18 months) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 18 months (2nd MMR + varicella)
MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇮🇳 India | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 11 months (1st of 2) Varicella (chickenpox) 15 months (2nd of 2)
Varicella (chickenpox) |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 12 months (1st of 2) Varicella (chickenpox) Junior infants (age 4-5, school) (2nd measles + 2nd chickenpox dose)
MMRV vaccine |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 15 months (1 dose)
Varicella (chickenpox) |
| 🇫🇷 France | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 15 months (2nd MMR + varicella) Tetra viral (MMR + varicella) 4 years (2nd dose)
Varicella (chickenpox) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 15 months (1st of 2) Varicella (chickenpox) 18 months (2nd of 2)
Varicella (chickenpox) |
Good to know
- Chickenpox is often mild, but it can cause serious skin infections, pneumonia and brain inflammation, and it is dangerous for newborns and anyone with a weak immune system.
- Countries differ more on this vaccine than almost any other: some give it to every child, some only to children in close contact with someone vulnerable. The UK added it to the routine schedule in 2026.
- It is a live vaccine, normally given from 12 months.
Side effects: what is normal
- Soreness or redness where the injection was given.
- A mild rash, sometimes with a few spots, in the weeks after the injection. Rarely, it can spread to others, so keep a child with spots away from newborns and people with weak immune systems until the spots crust over.
- A mild fever for a day or two.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It depends on the country. Across the 9 countries that include it on their routine schedule, the first dose is given from 11 months to 18 months. In the UK it is given at 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months. In the US it is given at 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years. The table on this page shows every country.
Routine schedules give 1 to 3 doses in childhood, depending on the country and the product used. Combination vaccines can mean one injection counts towards several diseases.
It is routine in 9 of the 14 countries on this site. We do not currently list it on the childhood schedule for South Africa, India, Russia, France and Netherlands - some countries run separate regional, seasonal or risk-group programmes, so ask your local clinic.
Yes. Vaccines on the childhood schedule are given by age, not by sex - girls and boys receive the same doses at the same ages.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- NHS - Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine (side effects and more)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
More vaccine guides
MMR vaccine · 6-in-1 vaccine · Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine · Polio vaccine · Hib vaccine · Hepatitis B vaccine · Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) · Rotavirus vaccine · MenB vaccine · MenACWY and MenC vaccines · HPV vaccine · Children's flu vaccine · BCG (tuberculosis) vaccine · Hepatitis A vaccine · RSV protection for babies
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