Should your child get the chickenpox vaccine?

Chickenpox is an illness caused by the varicella zoster virus. The symptoms include an itchy, spotty rash that turns into blisters, as well as a high temperature, aches and pains, tiredness, a loss of appetite and generally feeling unwell.

Chickenpox is common and mostly affects children, but you can get it at any age. It usually gets better by itself after one to two weeks without needing to see a GP. In adults, the symptoms tend to be more severe and can cause serious complications such as pneumonia¹.

Catching chickenpox in childhood used to be the only way to get immunity to prevent getting the virus in adulthood. In order to 'catch' the virus and gain immunity, some parents would throw chickenpox parties. Since it was developed in Japan in the 1970s, however, the vaccine has become increasingly popular². In the UK, the chickenpox jab isn’t part of the childhood vaccination programme on the NHS. However, you can pay for it privately.

What are the pros of getting the chickenpox vaccine?

Reduces chance of catching chickenpox and prevents serious illness

One of the key benefits of the vaccine is that it significantly reduces the likelihood of catching chickenpox, as the symptoms can be very unpleasant. The itchy spots can be very irritating and affect sleep and generally make a child feel very unwell. However, most children who catch the virus don’t become seriously unwell and get better after one or two weeks.

However, a very small number of children - even those who were previously healthy with no underlying medical conditions - can experience severe complications. These can include encephalitis - a swelling of the brain - pneumonia and other serious infections³.

The vaccine prevents chickenpox in 85% of immunised children, but provides 97% protection against severe disease⁴. Therefore, if an immunised child does catch the virus, they are far less likely to have serious complications.

Protects vulnerable people

The chickenpox vaccination is recommended for adults and children in regular or close contact with someone who has a weakened immune system or is at risk of serious illness if they catch chickenpox.

Vaccination also protects people at risk of catching chickenpox through close contact. The types of people who can have a chickenpox vaccination on the NHS include non-immune healthcare workers and close relatives and carers - who have not previously had chickenpox - of people who are unwell.

Helpful for working parents

Additionally, preventing a child from catching chickenpox can be an easier route for working and busy parents. A child with the virus will need to stay off nursery or school until their scabs have healed over, which can take up to a week. This can mean parents have to take time off work.

Trimming transmission

If a child catches chickenpox after having the vaccination - known as a breakthrough infection - it isn’t as contagious as the natural infection. Therefore, getting your child vaccinated can mean that other children may be less likely to get infected.

Not available on NHS

Unfortunately, the vaccine isn’t available on the NHS for the majority of children and adults. Jabs are given only to adults and children who are in close contact with someone who is either immuno-suppressed or would otherwise be at risk if they got chickenpox. So if you do want to get your child vaccinated, you’ll have to pay for the vaccine. It comes in two doses and costs around £150 for the whole course.

Breuer: Chickenpox.

Papaloukas et al: Successes and challenges in varicella vaccine.

Cameron et al: Severe complications of chickenpox in hospitalised children in the UK and Ireland.