Overview
- From 2 January, GP practices in England are administering the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine at 12 and 18 months as part of routine appointments.
- Children born on or after 1 January 2025 receive two doses at 12 and 18 months, and those born 1 July–31 December 2024 get doses at 18 months and at three years four months, with the second dose timing brought forward for these cohorts.
- Children born 1 September 2022–30 June 2024 will be offered one dose at three years four months, and a one‑off catch‑up is planned later in 2026 for those born 1 January 2020–31 August 2022.
- The expansion follows Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advice and is intended to cut severe complications and hospital admissions linked to chickenpox.
- NHS England highlights a strong safety record from countries including the US, Canada, Australia and Germany, and expects fewer school absences plus about £15m in annual savings, with childhood chickenpox linked to around £24m a year in lost productivity.