Children born from 1 January 2020 through 31 August 2022 who have neither had chickenpox nor received 2 chickenpox vaccine doses are to be offered 1 free combined vaccine dose, with the catch-up programme running until 31 March 2028.
England’s NHS is scheduled to offer 1 free dose of the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine from 1 November 2026, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says. Varicella means chickenpox. The catch-up offer covers children born from 1 January 2020 through 31 August 2022, inclusive, who have neither had chickenpox nor received 2 chickenpox vaccine doses.
These children were previously offered measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination at 12 months and 3 years 4 months. MMR does not protect against chickenpox. Routine vaccination with MMRV, which adds that protection, began on 1 January 2026.
Children who have already had chickenpox or received 2 chickenpox vaccine doses do not need the selective catch-up dose. If parents are unsure whether their child had chickenpox, UKHSA advises vaccination: its guidance says MMRV remains safe after previous infection. Practices are not required to check infection or vaccination history for children responding to the offer.
The official leaflet says children with a weakened immune system, or a previous serious allergic reaction to the vaccine or an ingredient, should not receive MMRV. The vaccine contains weakened living viruses. Parents who think either condition applies should speak to their GP or practice nurse.
The selective offer provides 1 MMRV dose. Younger children follow routine or transitional schedules determined by their date of birth:
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| Date of birth | MMRV offer | Earlier MMR dose |
|---|---|---|
| On or after 1 January 2025 | 2 doses: at 12 months and 18 months | MMRV is used from the first routine dose |
| 1 July 2024 through 31 December 2024 | 2 doses: at 18 months and 3 years 4 months | MMR should already have been received at 12 months |
| 1 September 2022 through 30 June 2024 | 1 dose at 3 years 4 months, replacing MMR | MMR should already have been received at 12 months |
UKHSA’s Varicella Annual Report 2025, published on 30 October 2026, recorded 3,037 chickenpox hospitalisations in England among children and young people under 18. Its community figures came from samples of GP practices and education settings, rather than national totals.
| Measure | Recorded count | Population covered |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultations | Over 15,000 | Under-18s in a sample of around a third of England’s GP practices |
| Nursery and primary-school absences | 4,117 | A sample of 439 nurseries and primary schools |
Children aged 5 and under accounted for over 70% of clinical chickenpox reports made to UKHSA’s regional health protection teams. The youngest children had the highest peak hospitalisation rates:
| Age | Peak hospitalisations per 100,000 |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 5.8 |
| 1 to 4 years | 2.3 |
UKHSA says children under 12 months are not routinely vaccinated because the vaccine does not always produce a strong immune response at that age. They rely on indirect protection from eligible older children being vaccinated. The programme’s implementation guidance says selective catch-up is intended to reduce transmission further and more rapidly.
UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Gavin Dabrera urged parents to have eligible children vaccinated when invited. Public health minister Dame Diana Johnson encouraged families to take up MMRV to protect against chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella.
GP practices should invite eligible families by letter, text, phone call or email during the programme, which is scheduled to run from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028. Parents who think their child should have been invited but have not heard should contact their practice to book an appointment.
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Amendments approved on 28 October 2026 require an institutional commission to check the grounds for treatment every 2 months and a court to review them every 6 months.
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