The UKās National Health Service (NHS) is now offering protection against chickenpox for young children by including it in the standard vaccination schedule. This vaccine is combined with the existing MMR jab, administered at 12 and 18 months, which already protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. The newly combined vaccine is called MMRV, with the 'V' representing varicella, another term for chickenpox. Children up to six years old can receive catch-up doses when invited, and experts predict the combined vaccine will significantly reduce the number of families impacted by chickenpox every year and prevent its most severe cases. Previously, parents would have to pay privately, around Ā£200, for the vaccine.
Effective from January 1, the MMRV vaccine will join the standard vaccination list for children in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, while Scotland is expected to announce a rollout start date in early January. Chickenpox, a common childhood illness, features a distinctive itchy, spotty rash that blisters and scabs over, often causing several days of fever and muscle aches. It spreads quickly, with around 90% of children under ten likely to contract it. Although usually mild, it can lead to severe illness, warns Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency. Some cases require hospital admission and can be fatal, albeit rarely. Complications may include bacterial infection of scabs, encephalitis, pneumonitis, and stroke, with young babies and adults at increased risk. Pregnant women face specific risks due to potential complications for both mother and unborn child.
Personal Impact Story
Maria Horton from Plymouth shared her personal experience, stating that her daughter Beth suffered a stroke weeks after contracting chickenpox at just two-and-a-half years old. Beth now lives with various long-term effects, including an inability to use her right hand, speech difficulties, and chronic pain. Maria said she would have vaccinated Beth if the option had been available, highlighting the importance of the vaccine to prevent similar consequences for others.
Dr. Claire Fuller, NHS Englandās national medical director, praised the introduction of chickenpox vaccination as a significant benefit for children and their families. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the rollout a 'historic milestone' in protecting childrenās health from a disease that annually affects thousands significantly. The MMRV vaccine has been used safely for decades in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, resulting in fewer cases of chickenpox and severe outcomes. The component of the vaccine targeting chickenpox is highly effective, with approximately 97% effectiveness after two doses. Cost considerations had previously slowed the UK's adoption of such a vaccination programme.