Overview

• NHS England will replace the MMR shot with a combined MMRV vaccine delivered at GP practices in two doses around 12 and 18 months.
• UKHSA expects the programme to protect about 500,000 children each year once it starts in January 2026.
• The change follows JCVI’s 2023 recommendation and comes after 2024/25 figures showed no childhood vaccine hit the 95% target, with two‑dose MMR at 83.7%.
• Regional disparities persist, with London at an estimated 69.6% for two MMR doses among five‑year‑olds compared with 90.2% in the North East.
• Ministers cite roughly £24m in annual lost productivity from chickenpox and forecast around £15m in yearly NHS savings, while officials weigh catch‑up options for younger children.