Chickenpox vaccine plea to beat 'conspiracy nonsense'

A HEALTH minister has urged parents to ensure their children get the new NHS chickenpox jab as he insists conspiracy theorists spreading misinformation must be defeated.

- By Rhiannon James

The vaccine, which costs around £150 at private clinics and pharmacies, will be rolled out for free on the NHS in England from January.

It will be part of a combined immunisation in the childhood vaccination programme, with ministers hoping it will protect youngsters from severe complications from the virus.

Health minister Stephen Kinnock said it made “common sense” for parents to vaccinate youngsters amid what he described as a rise in “vaccine hesitancy” following Covid.

None of the main childhood vaccines in England reached the 95% uptake target in 2024-25, data shows.