Health Minister Stephen Kinnock has urged parents to take up the new chickenpox vaccine as he launched a fierce attack on conspiracy theorists spreading misinformation. The Labour minister said these groups "must be defeated" as they peddle "nonsense and rubbish" about vaccines.
The chickenpox jab will be rolled out on the NHS in England from January 2026, replacing the current private cost of around £150. It will form part of a new combined MMRV vaccine covering measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox).
Vaccination rates fall short
New data reveals a concerning trend in childhood vaccination uptake across England. None of the main childhood vaccines reached the government's 95% target in 2024/25, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
MMR vaccine coverage has particularly declined, with just 91.9% of five-year-olds receiving one dose - unchanged from 2023/24 but the lowest level since 2010/11. Only 83.7% received both required MMR doses, down from 83.9% the previous year and the lowest since 2009/10.
Kinnock blamed a "10-year trend in declining take-up" worsened by vaccine hesitancy following the Covid pandemic. He told LBC the government is working with GPs, schools and health authorities on campaigns to boost uptake.
The new vaccine programme
Chickenpox typically causes an itchy, spotty rash and is usually mild in children. However, it can lead to serious complications including bacterial infections, brain swelling, lung inflammation and in rare cases, death.
The MMRV vaccine will be offered at GP practices from January 2026, protecting an estimated 500,000 children annually. It marks the first time protection against another disease has been added to the routine childhood vaccination programme since 2015.
Health and economic benefits
The new vaccine is expected to save the NHS £15 million annually in treatment costs. Chickenpox currently causes an estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity each year as parents take time off work to care for ill children.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam from UKHSA said the vaccine could be "a life saver" for children who develop severe symptoms. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended introducing the jab in November 2023, bringing England in line with countries including Germany, Australia, Canada and the US.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
