A chickenpox vaccination programme could be introduced next year as part of the new GP contract.
NHS England said the ‘potential’ introduction of a varicella vaccine could be launched in January 2026, subject to ‘final ministerial agreement’.
And it would be given as part of the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
The details come after it was announced that the British Medical Association (BMA) has agreed proposals set out by the government for the 2025/26 GP contract – which includes the introduction of practice nurses onto the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS).
While the full contract is yet to be published, NHS England’s national director for primary care and community services Dr Amanda Doyle has sent a letter to GP practices and primary care networks (PCNs) in England about the key changes to the contract.
This includes changes to be made to routine childhood and adult vaccination schedules, following recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI).
The letter sets out that, subject to government approval, practices will be required to offer and provide vaccination to:
- Children turning 12 months on or after 1 January 2026 will receive two doses of MMRV (at 12 and 18 months).
- Children turning 18 months on or after 1 January 2026 will receive one dose of MMRV (to complete their two-dose MMR schedule).
- Children aged 18 months to 3 years 4 months on 1 January 2026 will receive one dose of MMRV instead of their 2nd MMR dose. Of this cohort:
– those aged 18 months to 2 years 6 months will be invited to a brought forward appointment for their 2nd MMR dose (as MMRV) between 1 January 2026 and 31 October 2026
– those aged 2 years 7 months to 3 years 4 months on 1 January 2026 will receive their 2nd MMR dose (as MMRV) at their existing scheduled 3 years 4 months appointment before 31 October 2026. - Children aged 3 years 4 months to less than 6 years will be invited for a universal single catch-up dose of MMRV. Appointments to be scheduled from 1 January 2026 and completed by 31 March 2027.
In November 2023, the JCVI recommended that a universal chickenpox vaccination programme be included in the routine childhood immunisation schedule.
In February 2023, a study from University College London and Keele University found around three quarters of UK parents supported the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine in the routine childhood vaccination schedule.
The 2025/26 contract also includes two changes to the childhood immunisation schedule, following the discontinuation of the Menitorix (Hib/MenC) vaccine, which was used to treat haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and the type of meningitis caused by group C bacteria.
These include:
- An additional dose of Hib-containing multivalent (6-in-1) vaccine, offered at a new immunisation visit at 18 months of age.
- The second dose of MMR vaccine brought forwards from 3 years 4 months to the new immunisation visit at 18 months of age to improve coverage.
Other changes to the immunisation schedule include:
- The exchange of MenB (meningococcal group B bacteria) and PCV (pneumococcal conjugate) vaccines within the childhood schedule, subject to final ministerial agreement.
- An amendment to the requirement to record the dried blood spot test for at-risk babies has also been introduced, allowing that recording to take place between 12 and 18 months.
- A change to the adult shingles programme, reflecting new evidence on the effectiveness of the vaccination for a broader severely immunosuppressed (SIS) cohort.
It comes after it was announced that eight additional infectious diseases, including chickenpox, will be added to the list of notifiable diseases once new legislation comes into force on 6 April.
It followed a Government consultation to ensure that regulations ‘meet current surveillance needs’.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Nursing in Practice.
