Chickenpox vaccine recommended for NHS – here’s why a jab is better than getting the disease

If the vaccine is offered, children would be given two doses. sergei telegin/ Shutterstock

The chickenpox vaccine is already offered as part of childhood immunisation programmes in several countries, including Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. Now the UK government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended it be included as part of the routine immunisations children receive in the UK.

Not only does evidence from these countries show us the chickenpox vaccine is safe, it also shows us just how effective the vaccine can be – and why it should be introduced in the UK.