Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England’s national medical director, said providing protection against chickenpox was “a hugely positive moment for children and their families”.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged all parents to take up the offer of the vaccine, describing the rollout as a “historic milestone in protecting our children’s health” from a disease that “sends thousands to hospital every year”.
The MMRV vaccine has been safely used for decades in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany, which have all seen decreases in the number of people getting chickenpox and fewer serious cases.
The part of the vaccine which protects against chickenpox has been shown to be very effective – around 97% after two doses – and long-lasting.
The UK has been lagging behind for various reasons. There were concerns over the costs of a UK-wide vaccination programme and a potential rise in cases of shingles – when the chickenpox virus is reactivated in adulthood – but that has not been found to be an issue after many years of vaccination in the US.
Recent research also shows the scale of the impact of chickenpox on children and the NHS. An estimated £24 million in income and productivity is lost every year in the UK due to chickenpox in childhood, NHS England says. It also calculates that the vaccine rollout could save £15 million a year in NHS treatment costs.
For all those reasons, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises UK health departments, recommended the introduction of the vaccine on the NHS in November 2023.
“Families will save both time and money – no longer facing lost income from taking time off work or having to fork out for private vaccinations,” Streeting said.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said it was “welcome news” that a vaccine was being rolled out across the UK.
Meanwhile the Royal College of GPs said all NHS childhood vaccines were safe and effective, adding that jabs were “some of the most important health interventions parents can make for their children”.
