Chickenpox: Vaccination
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation statement on a childhood varicella (chickenpox) vaccination programme, published on 14 November 2023, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adding varicella vaccinations to the childhood immunisation programme.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a universal varicella, also known as chickenpox, vaccination programme be introduced as part of the routine childhood schedule. This recommendation was based on an assessment of the estimated programme cost-effectiveness as well as cases of severe varicella that could be prevented. The JCVI’s statement is available at the following link:
Ministers have accepted the JCVI’s recommendation, and the Department is in discussions with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency on the potential implementation of the recommendation.
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