A vaccine against chickenpox will be rolled out on the NHS in England for the first time next year.
The varicella vaccination is currently only available through private treatment and costs around £150.
But under new plans, the jab will be included in a new NHS childhood immunisation programme – joining the current range against measles, mumps, and rubella.
In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said GPs will be able to offer the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) vaccination from January 2025.
It will be available for babies aged between 12 and 18 months old, and is expected to protect around 500,000 every year.
According to the NHS website, the vaccine provides around 98% protection in children and about 75% protection in adults after two doses.
Further booster doses are also not needed.
The most well-known symptom of chickenpox is an itchy, spotty rash over the body.
But before this appears, children may have a high temperature, a loss of appetite, and may feel generally unwell.
Chickenpox usually gets better on its own within one to two weeks – but some children can develop complications such as bacterial infections like group A strep.
In the rarest cases, the virus can cause swelling of the brain, serious lung inflammation and stroke, sometimes leading to death.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, the UKHSA’s deputy director of immunisation, called the wider rollout “excellent news”.
He added it would help “prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver”.
Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, also said it marked “a hugely positive moment for families”.
She added: “We will work with vaccination teams and GP surgeries across the country to roll out the combined MMRV vaccine in the new year, helping to keep children healthy and prevent sickness from these highly contagious viruses.”
Read more:
Why are childhood vaccine rates so low?
Bereaved mum urges parents to book kids’ vaccinations
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended back in 2023 that the varicella jab should be given to youngsters in two doses as babies.
It is also already part of the routine vaccine schedules in a number of countries, including Germany, Australia, Canada and the US.
The announcement comes after UKHSA figures showed none of the main childhood vaccines in England reached their uptake targets last year.
Follow our channel and never miss an update.
Some 91.9% of five-year-olds have received one dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine – a number unchanged from the previous year and at the lowest level since 2010/2011.
Just 83.7% of children aged five had received both MMR doses, down year-on-year from 83.9%, and the lowest level since 2009/10.
