Parents urged to get children vaccinated against chickenpox

Parents and carers in Wolverhampton are being encouraged to get their child vaccinated against chickenpox when they are offered the vaccine.

It follows new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which show that over 3,000 children and young people were admitted to hospital with chickenpox last year.

Children aged five and under were particularly affected, making up more than 70% of chickenpox reports to UKHSA Health Protection Teams. The youngest were most likely to need hospital treatment, particularly babies under one year old.

The figures also show the wider impact on children and families, with over 4,000 absences linked to chickenpox recorded across a sample of 439 nurseries and primary schools nationally. 

Since 1 January 2026, the MMRV vaccine has been part of children's routine vaccinations. It is a single vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

Children born on or after 1 January 2025 are offered the vaccine at 12 months and again at 18 months. Older children are offered it at different ages, depending on when they were born. There is also a catch-up programme for children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 who have not had chickenpox before, and have not received two doses of chickenpox vaccine.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Chickenpox is very common and, for many children, it will be a mild illness that gets better at home.

“However, it can sometimes make children seriously unwell. The good news is that children can now be protected against chickenpox through the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

“Parents and carers in Wolverhampton are urged to take up the offer when their child is invited. The MMRV vaccine helps protect children against chickenpox as well as measles, mumps and rubella. If you're not sure whether your child needs a vaccination, please speak to your GP practice.”