Varicella Zoster UK

About Varicella Zoster UK

The UK did not routinely vaccinate children against chickenpox until the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended adding varicella to the childhood schedule in November 2023. Earlier UK policy had been shaped by concerns that vaccination could shift infection to older ages and that reduced exposure to chickenpox might increase shingles in adults. However, increasing evidence showed that natural infection caused significant morbidity, including severe bacterial skin infections and rare encephalitis. Chickenpox complications also caused a small number of deaths each year. The JCVI was also influenced by the success of varicella vaccination in the US, where chickenpox has been nearly eliminated in children. The UK introduced a combined MMRV vaccine into its routine childhood programme in January 2026.