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Chickenpox Vaccine Added to NHS Schedule for Toddlers Nationwide

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Business Honor
06 September, 2025

UK to offer free chickenpox vaccine for kids, aiming to prevent serious health risks.

Beginning in January of next year, all young children in the UK will receive a free chickenpox vaccination from the NHS. In addition to the current MMR vaccine, which guards against measles, mumps and rubella, the vaccination will be administered in two doses at 12 and 18 months. Additionally, for somewhat older kids who could have missed out on early vaccinations, a catch up program will be introduced for safety and security.

Up until now, families had to cover the cost themselves as sometimes as much as £200 to get their children vaccinated against chickenpox. This virus typically causes an itchy rash and infection like symptoms but can lead to serious complications in babies’ adults and pregnant women. Health experts say making the vaccine freely available will protect children and help reduce the financial burden on families. The government estimates that chickenpox costs the UK around £24 million per year in lost income and productivity as parents often miss work to care for sick children.

The vaccine was recommended for NHS use by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in late 2023. According to the experts, it will substantially decrease the frequency of hospitalizations and dangerous cases. Despite being generally mild, chickenpox can rarely result in consequences such as stroke, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and pneumonia. These uncommon yet harmful consequences can be avoided with vaccination.

Also, the government is trying to increase the general vaccination rate which has decreased recently. Health campaigns will battle disinformation, particularly on the internet and promote vaccine safety. The parents who support the move also wish others to get vaccinated like Sarah, whose daughter Mia was hospitalized due to a severe chickenpox illness. The chickenpox vaccine is important for protection of children's health and lowering preventable disease.