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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
National
Rohit David

Chickenpox Vaccine To Be Offered For Free In 2026 Amid Fears Over UK's Weak Immunisation Rates - Is An Outbreak Possible?

NHS Vaccine United Kingdom UKHSA CDC
Experts warn of outbreaks as 1 in 5 English kids start school unprotected. (Credit: CDC : Pexels)

Amid rising concerns over faltering infant immunisation rates in England, the NHS announces a free chickenpox vaccine for young children starting January 2026, as experts warn of potential outbreaks due to coverage levels far below the 95% needed for herd immunity.

England faces a public health crisis with childhood vaccination rates at their lowest in over a decade. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), no routine vaccine met the World Health Organization's 95% target in 2024-25. This leaves one in five children starting primary school unprotected against serious diseases like measles and whooping cough.

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