A vaccine that protects against chickenpox is to be rolled out across the NHS for the first time, with children set to receive it as part of their routine jabs.
Youngsters will now be offered protection against chickenpox alongside the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — through the combined MMRV jab.
Health experts have welcomed the change, warning that while chickenpox is often mild, it can be “very serious” for some people — including babies, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
Chickenpox (varicella) spreads quickly and easily, and is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which can later reactivate as shingles.
In Scotland, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter confirms routine changes to the childhood vaccination schedule from 1st January 2026, introducing a varicella vaccination programme and a catch-up element following expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The programme will use the combined MMRV vaccine — meaning children eligible for a first or second MMR dose from 1st January 2026 should be offered MMRV instead of MMR.
The Scottish update also confirms the second MMR dose is moving to the new 18-month appointment and will be replaced by MMRV.
NHS guidance explains the chickenpox vaccine helps prevent chickenpox and is already available for people in close contact with someone at higher risk of becoming seriously ill.
It also notes children are now being offered MMRV, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella), with doses offered at 12 months and 18 months, and some older children (born on or after 1st January 2020) eligible for one or two doses depending on their situation.
The Scottish schedule letter sets out eligibility by date of birth, including a selective catch-up programme for some children under six to help reduce transmission.
It also states MMR vaccine will no longer be available for the routine childhood programme from 1st January 2026 (though it will still be used outside the routine programme in certain cases).
The letter says vaccine effectiveness in children provides around 98% protection, and most “breakthrough” infections (cases after vaccination) are usually modified and milder.
Two combined MMRV vaccines will be used in the universal programme — Priorix-Tetra and ProQuad — and are considered clinically equivalent and interchangeable.
Like all vaccines, side effects can happen, but the NHS says most are mild and do not last long — such as soreness where the injection was given, a high temperature, or a rash that can develop within a month. More serious allergic reactions are described as very rare, with vaccinators trained to treat them immediately.
The NHS also warns the chickenpox vaccine is a live vaccine (containing a weakened version of the virus), which means it is not recommended for some people — including those with a weakened immune system because of illness or treatment, pregnant women, babies under nine months old, and anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or certain ingredients.
People are also advised to avoid getting pregnant for one month after the final dose.
Parents and carers who have questions about eligibility are being encouraged to contact their GP surgery, while healthcare workers who are not immune may be recommended vaccination depending on their role and level of patient contact.
- Children will be offered the combined MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox) as part of routine jabs.
- In Scotland, changes to the childhood vaccination schedule take effect from 1st January 2026.
- The programme replaces routine childhood MMR with MMRV for eligible appointments from that date. :contentReference
- Pregnant women
- Babies
- People with weakened immune systems (for example due to illness or treatments like chemotherapy)
- In Scotland’s new programme, routine MMRV vaccination is delivered on the childhood schedule, with eligibility set out by date of birth.
- The Scottish CMO letter states vaccine efficacy in children provides around 98% protection, and breakthrough infections are usually milder.
- The NHS says after 2 doses, protection is around 98% in children and about 75% in adults, with no booster doses needed.
- People with a weakened immune system due to illness (such as HIV) or treatment (such as chemotherapy)
- Pregnant women (and people are advised to avoid pregnancy for 1 month after the last dose)
- Babies under 9 months old
- Anyone who has had anaphylaxis to a previous dose or certain ingredients (including neomycin or gelatin)
Source note: Scottish schedule details are taken from the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland letter SGHD/CMO (2025) 19 dated 4th November 2025.