UK Government to offer FREE chickenpox vaccination offered for 1st time to children

JANUARY 2026 will see the UK embarking on a new era of Health, with the arrival of free Chickenpox Vaccinations in England.

In what is a landmark move by the UK Government, the NHS will offer a free chickenpox vaccination to children across England starting in January 2026. This initiative marks the 1st time a universal chickenpox vaccine will be available on the NHS, promising to protect thousands of children and deliver a powerful economic boost.

This vaccination program will eligible children to be able to receive a combined:- measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule. This proactive measure will shield kids from a common, yet disruptive, illness. The benefits extend far beyond individual health, impacting families and the national economy.

This vaccination program isn't just about health; it's a strategic financial investment. By preventing widespread cases of chickenpox, the NHS stands to save a staggering:- £15 million a year in treatment costs. The chickenpox vaccine has a proven track record of safety and effectiveness, having been successfully integrated into routine schedules for decades in countries like the:- United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany. England is now joining this global effort to build a healthier, more productive future.

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said that:- "We're giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work. This vaccine puts children's health 1st and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help to do exactly that. The vaccination programme forms part of the Government's wider ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever as part of our Plan for Change; boosting the nation's health and ensuring the future sustainability of the NHS as we shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention."

If successful this vaccine will help reduce cases of chickenpox and protect children from serious complications that can cause Hospitalisation, such as bacterial infections like:- Strep A, brain and lung inflammation, and stroke.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said:- "Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to Hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal. t is excellent news that from next January we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme; helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver. We now have extensive experience from a number of countries showing that the vaccine has a good safety record and is highly effective. The programme will have a really positive impact on the health of young children and also lead to fewer missed Nursery and School days."

The UK Government's decision to roll out the MMRV vaccine in January 2026 is based on expert scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Their research shows that chickenpox has a significant impact on:- children's health, Hospital admissions and associated costs.

Private vaccinations for chickenpox at pharmacies and clinics currently cost around:- £150 for a full course of 2 doses. This rollout will mean the vaccination will be available free of charge on the NHS to eligible children.

Other countries, such as:- Germany, Canada and the United States; all have seen substantial decreases in chickenpox cases and related Hospital admissions since introducing their vaccination programmes.

Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said:- "This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the 1st time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness. We will work with vaccination teams and GP surgeries across the country to roll out the combined MMRV vaccine in the new year, helping to keep children healthy and prevent sickness from these highly contagious viruses. The MMRV vaccine rollout forms part of the Government's overall aim to ensure young people thrive, as part of the 10 Year Health Plan. This includes:- expanding access to vaccines, as well as free School meals, mental health support and dental care. This is the 1st time protection against another disease has been added to the routine childhood vaccination programme since the MenB vaccine in 2015."

Meanwhile, the Department for Education has recently announced plans to roll out of:- 'Best Start Family Hubs' in every local area, relieving pressure on parents and giving half a million more children the very best start in life.

The eligibility criteria for children will be set out in clinical guidance covering which age groups will get the MMRV vaccine and when, to ensure the most effective protection for children.

As with other childhood immunisations, parents will be contacted by their GP surgery to arrange an appointment if their child is eligible.

Are you going to let your child get vaccinated? Please let us know your thoughts about this landmark decision to offer the vaccination, which in the UK can cost between:- £150 to £500 through privet health services, in the UK, for free on the NHS? Email our Newsroom:-  News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....

Signs your child may be being bullied, and what to do about it

WITH students across the UK returning to School this week, heading back to the classroom can be a source of anxiety or stress for many children, especially if they are suffering from bullying.

Finding out your child is being bullied is a distressing experience, and it can often be difficult for parents to determine the best course of action to help solve the issue.

Here, the team at education training experts, High Speed Training, share some tell tale signs that parents should look out for to tell if their child is being bullied, and the best course of action to stop the bullying taking place.

Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning & Development at High Speed Training, said:- "There are several signs that could indicate that your child is being bullied at School. It's important to note that whilst these can often be signs of bullying, there may be other explanations, so it's best to avoid jumping to conclusions until you have the full picture. Children are often reluctant to raise the issue with adults as well, fearing that the situation may get worse if they tell someone."

Some signs that a child may be getting bullied include:-

• Physical signs, such as unexplained cuts or bruises.
  

• Changes in behaviour, such as isolation, withdrawal or change in eating habits.
  

• Change in academic performance, or reluctance to attend School.
  

• Personal items or property going missing.
  

• Online signs, such as inappropriate or offensive messages.

How to address bullying with your child, Dr Anderson esplains:- "If you've discovered that your child is being bullied, it's important to respond calmly and be supportive. Finding out your child is in distress will likely make you feel angry and protective, but it's important not to act rashly in a way that could make the situation worse Let them talk through their experiences and how they're feeling without interrupting or prompting them. You may have your own thoughts or suspicions about what's happening, but it's important to stay neutral for now to allow your child to tell their version of events and try to establish some key facts about who's involved and what has occurred. The most important thing to do is to offer reassurance and support. They'll likely be feeling a range of emotions, and may blame themselves or feel shame for what they're going through. Some children may feel angry about their experiences or feel that they do not have control over their situation, and may want to retaliate against the bully, or even against someone else. It's important to strongly discourage this, and instead, discuss non violent solutions that can help your child. It's also important to remember to keep your own emotions in check, and not let them dictate your actions. Storming off to confront the bully or their parents, or kicking up a fuss in School might be the last thing your child wants, and could even make the situation worse. This will also likely put your child off from wanting to discuss this or similar issues with you in future."

Dr Anderson added:- "Once you've spoken to your child, and discussed how to proceed, you may want to raise the issue with people at School to address it. Make an appointment with the School, and work with them to solve the problem. Remain calm and confident, and avoid blaming the staff at the School. Make sure you have all the information you need, and a clear idea of what you and your child want to happen next. You should also continue to monitor the situation going forward in case things don't improve, by documenting any instances of bullying and raising them as soon as possible with the School. If you find that things don't improve, or not enough has been done by the School to address the issue, you may want to consider following the School's complaints procedure. If things still don't improve, consider writing to Ofsted."

You can find more information about where to find help and support from the Anti Bullying Alliance website:- Anti-BullyingAlliance.Org.UK for more information, visit:- 'High Speed Training' and view their child safeguarding courses.