15/12/2025
📣 Important Update to the Childhood Vaccination Schedule from January
The NHS childhood immunisation schedule is changing from January.
🆕 Most notably, the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine will now be routinely offered to children for the first time, starting from January.
This is given as part of the new MMRV combination vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) at 1 year and again at 18 months.
👶 From November 2026 there will be a catch up programme for children who are aged between 3 years 4 months to under 6 years as of 31 December 2025 and;
✔️ Have no history of chickenpox infection, and
✔️ Have not previously had two doses of a varicella-containing vaccine
Why this matters: chickenpox is usually mild but can occasionally cause complications. Introducing this vaccine is expected to significantly reduce infections, complications, and community outbreaks.
Other routine vaccines will continue as normal, including protection against:
✔️ Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib & hepatitis B
✔️ Rotavirus
✔️ Meningitis B
✔️ Pneumococcal disease
✔️ MMR (now MMRV for most children)
✔️ HPV (school-based)
✔️ MenACWY & teenage boosters
The image attached provides a clear visual guide to the updated schedule.
If you have questions about your child’s upcoming vaccines or whether they need catch-up appointments, please contact the surgery via an admin e-consultation and we will get back to you. Our nursing team is here to help.
https://accurx.nhs.uk/patient-initiated/b82022
Thankyou
