Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI:The NHS’s vaccination programme is being expanded to include chickenpox (also known as varicella) for the first time to help shield young children from getting seriously ill.
Young children will be offered protection against chickenpox as part of their routine childhood vaccinations from January 2. From now on, GP practices will start to offer children a combined MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months of age to add chickenpox to the protections against measles, mumps and rubella. Chickenpox is a common infection in children that spreads easily. It is usually mild but it can lead to serious complications which need hospitalisation, including chest infections and fits.
Children will now be offered protection against chickenpox following a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations, with a combined MMRV vaccine replacing the MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Claire Fuller, National Medical Director for NHS England, said, “This is a hugely positive moment for children and their families, providing protection against chickenpox for the first time and adding to the arsenal of routine vaccinations we give to children to safeguard them against serious illnesses.
“From now, the combined vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox will be available at children’s routine vaccination appointments to keep children healthier and prevent sickness from these highly contagious viruses. The new vaccine will also help the health service move its focus from sickness to prevention, and keep more children safe and in school.” The latest data indicates that half of children will contract chickenpox by the age of four, and 90 per cent by the age of ten.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said, “Today marks a historic milestone in protecting our children’s health – for the first time, the NHS is offering chickenpox vaccination as part of our routine childhood immunisation programme. “Many families have faced the threat of chickenpox, which can cause serious complications. The disease also brings significant worry and disruption, with children missing nursery or school and parents forced to stay home to look after them.
“This new protection will give parents reassurance that their children are protected from a disease that sends thousands to hospital every year,” he added. Children born on or after 1 January 2025 will be offered two doses of the MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months, while children born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024 will be offered two doses at 18 months and 3 years, 4 months.
