NHS England has reported that alongside other vaccinations, children will now be offered the chickenpox vaccination on the NHS.

Chickenpox is a common disease that spreads incredibly quickly but can make children very poorly. Symptoms include itchy spots over the body, a temperature and generally feeling unwell. Most children experience mild chickenpox, but some can end up in hospital after experiencing seizures. Often children are infected two weeks before symptoms arise therefore preventing spreading the disease is a challenge.

As children are generally unwell for about a week (although this can be longer), parents must miss days at work and the logistics to support the unwell children can be a challenge. In 2024, it was reported that £24 million was lost in income and productivity as parents could not work. Although there is a cost to deliver the vaccine, research has predicted that the vaccination rollout will save the NHS £15 million a year in costs for treating the disease.

The research for the success of this vaccination is overwhelmingly positive, and it has already been part of routine vaccinations in the US, Canada and Australia for many years.

Until now, parents in the UK have had to pay privately to protect their children, and the cost is generally around £150 for both doses. The vaccination is now offered at 12 months and 18 months old to all children and this has been the case since the beginning of 2026.

1. How long might it take before we observe a reduction in chickenpox cases among children in the UK?

2. Could widespread vaccination against chickenpox have unintended epidemiological effects?

3. What does the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine suggest about how health systems prioritise mild diseases?