VARICELLA

Other useful links and further reading:

Varicella universal prog recommendations Nov 2023

Useful extra reading and comparison with US and UK approaches to varicella vaccination programmes. Should UK children be vaccinated against chickenpox? Interesting article

Chickenpox vaccine FAQs - NHS

Chickenpox: public health management and guidance

Guidance: Post exposure prophylaxis for chickenpox and shingles

Recent Updates & News

29th August: Well I , like many other nurses, woke up today to find a flurry of 'varicella from Jan 26' themed news headlines and a media frenzy in response to a government press release. Still important to be aware that we don't have exact confirmed details on how this will be implemented but from my multiple whatsapp messages this morning I can see a lot of staff are feeling confused and asking 'did I miss something?'. As far as I can see, we didn't. If you haven't already done so, refer to all the linked info below for JVCI discussions and government thoughts on the matter to get a bit of an insight into where we are at. I'll be keeping a close eye on any new documents coming through and will post them here and on the news page when anything arrives. Here are some of the national news headlines from today in the meantime: BBC, Guardian, Inews.

16th July 2025: The JCVI meeting minutes from June have been published. This bit is particular useful to know and differs from the GP contract information further down. "JCVI had previously recommended a two-dose universal varicella vaccination programme using the combined MMRV vaccine for infants at 12 and 18 months of age and a catch-up programme for children under the age of 11 years. Since then, the Committee had been informed that the catch up was not feasible due to vaccine supply issues. The Committee agreed that the MMRV selective catch-up programme should be advised as:

• Two doses for children between 12 and 18 months of age.

• One dose for children between 18 months and 3 years 4 months of age. The vaccine would be given to children at 3 years 4 months of age.

• A delayed selective catch-up for children above 3 years 4 months to 6 years of age.

• Children above 6 years of age would no longer be eligible.

The Committee felt that the catch-up programme would offer a single dose of the MMRV vaccine to a greater number of children, and this would reduce the risk of cohorts growing up unprotected against varicella. The Committee noted that some children would be given one dose of the MMRV vaccine, in comparison with two doses in the previously advised catch-up programme. Data from the USA indicated that there was still a big impact on disease severity and transmission when a single dose was introduced. This provided the committee with further reassurance."

7th April 2025: The chickenpox public health management guidance has been updated today to reflect changes to health protection regulations.

28th Feb 2025: From GP contract 25/26:

Varicella introduction and catch-up (subject to final policy decision) effective from 1st Jan 2026: Children turning 12 months on or after 01 January 2026 will receive two doses of MMRV (at 12 and 18 months). Children turning 18 months on or after 01 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 01 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. Children aged 6 years to less than 11 years will be invited to receive a single dose of MMRV if they have no history of chicken pox. Appointments to be scheduled from 1 January 2026 and completed by 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, an opportunistic or on request offer will remain for varicella (as a single dose of MMRV) to all children aged 3 years 4 months to less than 11 years before 1 January 2026 who have no history of chicken pox.

The second update in 2 months to the Varicella Green Book chapter was published on the last day of September 2024. This change was following the withdrawal of VZIG, including use of iv Varitect CP for Group 1 neonates at highest risk of severe varicella.

NOV 2023 Chickenpox programme on the way? See JCVI notes for further info. Suggestions include a childhood varicella vaccine to be offered in 2 doses, at 12 and 18 months of age with a catch up programme for older children Read all about it in the JCVI notes.

Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation

Did you know....

• Chickenpox is most common in children and is usually mild (although not always- it can be VERY serious in some). When adults get it, however, they can get really really unwell.

• Some people have been known to have 500 spots!!! (at the time of writing my mate's kid has a spot on his eyeball!)

• Chickenpox is VERY contagious. There is a 90% chance you will catch it from someone who has it if you have not had it before.

• Getting chickenpox once generally means someone will not get it again. However, in rare cases, it can strike more than once in the same person.

• Chickenpox cases were significantly reduced during the pandemic lockdowns, meaning there is currently a larger pool of children than usual without immunity. Could this be part of the consideration to introduce a vaccine programme?

• Chickenpox is a seasonal disease. Most cases occur in winter and spring. There is often a peak between March and May.