The NHS is introducing a new childhood chickenpox (varicella) vaccination programme, and a one-dose MMRV catch-up vaccination is being offered to eligible children.
Who is eligible for the catch-up vaccination?
The catch-up offer is for children who:
- Were born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022.
- Have not previously had chickenpox or received two doses of a chickenpox-containing vaccine.
The MMRV vaccine protects against four infections:
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Varicella (chickenpox)
When will my child be invited?
The Grove Medical Group will be contacting eligible parents and carers to invite their child for vaccination.
As a significant number of children are eligible, invitations will be staggered to help us manage appointment availability and ensure we have sufficient nursing appointments. We will be inviting children throughout the programme period, which runs from November 2026 to March 2028.
Please don’t worry if you haven’t received an invitation yet. We will be contacting eligible families over this period as appointment capacity allows.
NHS England may also send information directly to parents and carers about the catch-up programme.
Would you like to discuss the vaccination?
If you are unsure whether your child needs the vaccination or would simply like to discuss it with one of our nurses before deciding, you are welcome to book an appointment at one of our specialist MMRV Catchup clinics for a chat.
Further information
For more information about the MMRV catch-up programme, eligibility and the vaccine, please visit: