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3,037 children in hospital with chickenpox, and the catch-up offer that just opened

Qurexa Editorial Team2 November 20267 min read 0 0
3,037 children in hospital with chickenpox, and the catch-up offer that just opened

What happened

New figures show how many children ended up in hospital with chickenpox in England in the year before a vaccine was added to the routine childhood schedule. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published its Varicella Annual Report on 30 October 2026. Varicella is the medical name for chickenpox. The report covers 2025, which was the last full year before the vaccine became routine. The headline figure is 3,037. That is how many under-18s were admitted to hospital with chickenpox in England during 2025. The report also found: - More than 15,000 GP appointments for under-18s with chickenpox. This came from a sample of roughly a third of GP practices, so the true national figure will be higher. - Children aged five and under made up more than 70 per cent of chickenpox cases reported to UKHSA's regional health protection teams. - Hospital admission rates were highest in the youngest children: 5.8 per 100,000 for babies under one, and 2.3 per 100,000 for children aged one to four. - In a sample of 439 nurseries and primary schools, chickenpox was linked to 4,117 absences. Dr Gavin Dabrera, a Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said the figures show "the true toll this nasty disease can inflict on children". Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Public Health and Patient Safety, said: "Chickenpox can be really unpleasant for children."

Why this matters

Most of us grew up thinking of chickenpox as a normal part of childhood. A week of spots, a bit of calamine lotion, back to school. For most children, that is still how it goes. But 3,037 hospital admissions in a single year is a reminder that "usually mild" is not the same as "always mild". The children most likely to end up in hospital are the youngest, and they are the ones who cannot yet be vaccinated. There is also the knock-on effect. More than 4,000 absences across just 439 schools and nurseries means missed lessons for children and missed work for parents. A child with chickenpox needs to stay away from others until the spots have crusted over, which usually takes about five days from when they first appear. This is the first annual picture from before the vaccine became routine, so it gives a baseline. Future reports will show whether these numbers fall.

What the evidence actually says

Here is where the vaccination programme now stands, as set out by UKHSA. The chickenpox vaccine became part of the routine childhood schedule on 1 January 2026. It is given as the MMRV vaccine, which protects against four things in one injection: measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. Children get two doses, at 12 months and 18 months. Babies under one are not routinely vaccinated. The reason is biological, not administrative: at that age the vaccine may not produce a strong enough immune response. Under-ones are instead protected indirectly, because when enough older children are vaccinated there is less chickenpox circulating for a baby to catch. That is why the youngest children's protection depends partly on other families taking up the offer. There is also a catch-up programme, and it is time-limited. It runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028. It is for children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 who have not had chickenpox. They are offered either one dose of MMRV or two doses of a varicella vaccine. That window is worth noting. If your child falls into that birth range, the offer is open now and closes at the end of March 2028. It is not a permanent part of the schedule. Dr Amanda Doyle, Director for Primary Care and Community Services, pointed out the practical appeal of MMRV: it offers protection against four diseases in one appointment.

Qurexa perspective

There is a genuine, practical overlap here with what we do. When a child has chickenpox, they need to stay away from other people for several days. That includes shops and pharmacies, and it especially includes anyone pregnant, any newborn baby, and anyone having treatment that weakens their immune system. Taking a spotty, itchy child into a busy pharmacy is exactly what you are being asked not to do. That is awkward if you also need calamine lotion, children's paracetamol, or a repeat prescription for someone else in the house. Having things brought to the door is not a luxury in that week. It is how you follow the advice without leaving someone without their medicines. We deliver prescriptions and groceries across Lincolnshire, so if you are stuck at home with a poorly child, that is a situation we can help with. If a neighbour or family member can drop things off instead, that works just as well.

Practical advice

1. Check whether your child is eligible for catch-up. If they were born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 and have not had chickenpox, ask your GP practice about the catch-up offer. It is open from 1 November 2026 until 31 March 2028. 2. Keep the 12-month and 18-month appointments. If your child is younger, the MMRV vaccine is part of the normal schedule at those ages. One appointment covers four diseases. 3. Keep a child with chickenpox away from others until the spots have crusted over. This usually takes about five days from the first spots appearing. 4. Keep away from people at higher risk. Pregnant women, newborn babies and people with weakened immune systems can become seriously unwell from chickenpox. Avoid contact and let them know if they may have been exposed. 5. Look after the itching, and know the warning signs. Cool, loose clothing and plenty of fluids help. Speak to a pharmacist about soothing treatments, and ask about painkillers rather than guessing. Do not give aspirin to children. Contact a GP or NHS 111 if the skin around the spots becomes hot, red and painful, if your child becomes drowsy or very unwell, or if they are struggling to drink. 6. If you are not sure whether your child already had it, ask. Parents often cannot be certain. Your GP practice can advise on whether vaccination still makes sense.

What to know

UKHSA's Varicella Annual Report, published on 30 October 2026, found 3,037 hospital admissions of under-18s for chickenpox in England in 2025, plus more than 15,000 GP appointments from a sample of about a third of practices. Children aged five and under made up over 70 per cent of reported cases. Admission rates were highest in babies under one, at 5.8 per 100,000. The chickenpox vaccine joined the routine schedule on 1 January 2026, given as MMRV at 12 and 18 months. Babies under one are not routinely vaccinated and rely on reduced spread from others being protected. A catch-up offer runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028 for children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 who have not had chickenpox. If that is your child, this is the window to ask your GP practice about. Sources: GOV.UK (UK Health Security Agency), "New report shows toll of Chickenpox with over 3,000 infants hospitalised last year", 30 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-report-shows-toll-of-chickenpox-with-over-3000-infants-hospitalised-last-year; GOV.UK (UK Health Security Agency), "Varicella epidemiological reports", https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/varicella-epidemiological-reports; NHS, "Chickenpox", https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/. This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional.

#chickenpox#vaccination#childrens health#UKHSA#MMRV#parenting

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