The NHS is adding the chickenpox vaccine to the routine programme, a historic step expected to reduce hospital admissions and lessen parental work absences due to illness.

Real-life impact anecdotes accompany projections that the programme will save NHS costs and reduce infection burden.

The rollout is framed as a milestone for child health, with officials underscoring safety and the alignment with public health goals.

GPs will proactively contact families to schedule vaccinations as they become due.

A new combined MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) will replace MMR in the routine schedule, with two doses aimed at eligible children according to birth dates and a catch-up path for older cohorts.

Health officials, including the Health Secretary and medical leaders, emphasise reduced hospital admissions, less family disruption, and broader protection for children as core benefits.

Introducing varicella vaccination brings the UK in line with other countries, with recent US studies addressing prior concerns about shingles rising.

JCVI's earlier hesitations over shingles risks have been reframed by new evidence, enabling the rollout to proceed.

The vaccine has a long track record in the US, Canada, Australia, and Germany, contributing to disease prevention and public health gains.

In other countries the vaccine has reduced chickenpox cases and severe complications and is expected to lower NHS treatment costs and parental work time lost.

Shingles information: caused by reactivation of the virus; a vaccine is available for certain groups and can reduce severity if shingles occurs.

Public figures cited highlight safety, effectiveness, and anticipated reductions in sickness-related disruptions and NHS costs.