What is chickenpox and who can get the vaccine?

In the UK, young children will soon be offered free chickenpox vaccine on NHS.

It will be added to the list of standard childhood vaccinations from January 2026, and there will be a catch-up program for older children.

chicken pocks Varicala zoster virus (VZV) is a highly infectious disease,

The virus is transmitted through direct contact between people, or through air drops in cough and sneezing.

It is very easy to catch it, especially if you have never done so before.

While it affects most children – about half has taken it from their fourth birthday – people of any age can get it.

The first symptoms include fever, muscle pain and pain and generally unwell.

A few days later, a itchy, spotted grains appear.

These red or pink dots can appear anywhere on the body, including inside the mouth.

Some children may have only a few spots, but others can be covered from head to toe.

The spots are filled with fluids and become blisters before crusting to make scabs, which eventually leave and clean.

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Most cases in children are light, although they will feel unwell and will need to remember school or nursery for several days.

Some children will go to develop complications.

In rare cases chicken pox can cause brain inflammation, called encephalitis; An inflammation of the lungs, called pneumonitis; And stroke, resulting in hospitalization and – very little – death.

Chickenpox is often more severe in very young infants and adults.

This can be dangerous in pregnancy, causing complications in both mother and child.

You can already get chickenpox vaccine privately in the UK, at a cost of up to £ 200.

But experts say adding the varicella vaccine Official NHS for childhood vaccination program Chickenpox will reduce the number of people caught dramatically, leading to very few severe cases.

The vaccine does not guarantee a lifetime immunity, but it greatly reduces the risk of developing chickenpox or having a bad case.

Severe side effects, such as a serious allergic reaction, are very rare.

From January 2026, children will be automatically offered two doses at the age of 12 and 18 months.

They will get a combined MMRV vaccine, which prevents measles, kanthamala, rubella and varichela.

It is a live vaccine which means that it contains a weak version of the chickenpox virus. For example, it is not recommended for people with an agreement immune system causing HIV -like disease or as a result of treatment such as chemotherapy.

This step will bring Britain to other countries that already offer regular varicala vaccinations including Germany, Canada, Australia and the United States.

It was previously thought that vaccinating children against chickenpox would lead to a problematic increase in shingles, but the US recent long -term study rejected that theory.

The committee that advises the government on vaccination – JCVI – It was recommended that all children be given MMRV in November 2023,

It was also suggested that there should be a temporary catch-up program for a few older children that would just miss. Its details are expected in the appointed time.

The decision to vaccinate against chickenpox was announced as new data showed that none of the main childhood vaccines in England reached 95% uptake target in 2024/25.

According to the UK Health Protection Agency, some of the five -year -old children, a dose of 91.9% MMR vaccine, unchanged from 2023/24 and the lowest level since 2010/11.

You cannot catch ringworm. it is A very painful situation It can develop years after a chickenpox infection.

This is because when people get chickenpox, the virus remains in the body and later it can be activated, which causes ringworm.

This can be, for example, if your immune system becomes weak due to treatment such as stress, certain conditions or chemotherapy.

For many people, it is a painful skin rash – usually on the chest or abdomen – one side of the body.

The drug (antiviral tablet) can help speed up recovery and avoid long-term problems.

A Shingles vaccine Available on NHS for:

• Those who turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023
• People between the ages of 70 and 79 who have not been vaccinated yet
• People aged 50+ with a severely weaker immune system

You can get ringworm more than once, so it is important to vaccinate even if you have alcohol before.

If you receive ringworm after vaccination, the symptoms can be very high.