Free chickenpox jab to protect half a million children a year

Combined MMRV jab will replace current MMR vaccine from 2026

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A vaccine for chickenpox will be rolled out on the NHS in England from January, officials have announced.

The jab, which currently costs around £150 at private clinics and pharmacies, will form part of a new combined immunisation on the childhood vaccination programme.

Ministers hope it will not only protect some youngsters from severe complications from the virus, but also prevent parents taking time off work to look after their children when they become infected.

Chickenpox is a common childhood illness and is usually mild.

The main symptom is an itchy, spotty rash over the body, but before this appears children may have a high temperature, a loss of appetite, and may feel generally unwell.

Chickenpox usually gets better on its own within one to two weeks, although some children can develop complications such as bacterial infections like group A strep.

In rare cases, the virus can cause swelling of the brain, serious lung inflammation and stroke, sometimes leading to death.