NHS MMRV Catch-Up Vaccine Starts in England on 1st November 2026

From 1st November 2026, NHS England is starting a time-limited MMRV catch-up programme for certain children who did not receive chickenpox vaccination when the routine programme changed. The programme applies in England and is mainly for children born between 1st January 2020 and 31st August 2022. Here’s how to check whether your child qualifies and what you need to do.

Does my child qualify?

The first thing to check is your child’s date of birth, but that is not the only thing that matters. Your child may be included in the catch-up programme if they were born between 1st January 2020 and 31st August 2022, have not had chickenpox and have not had two doses of a chickenpox vaccine.

Your child needs to have been born between 1st January 2020 and 31st August 2022, must not have had chickenpox and must not have already had two doses of a chickenpox vaccine.

These are children who were aged 3 years 4 months to under 6 years on 31st December 2025. That refers to their age on that date, rather than necessarily their age when they receive the catch-up vaccine.

Being in the date-of-birth range does not by itself mean your child qualifies. Their chickenpox and vaccination history matters too.

• were born between 1st January 2020 and 31st August 2022
• have not had chickenpox
• have not had two doses of a varicella-containing vaccine.

If those points apply, NHS England says your child should be offered one dose of MMRV. MMRV is the combined measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox vaccine.

Why is this happening now?

From 1st January 2026, England started using MMRV as part of the routine childhood vaccination programme. Before that change, children in this age group were offered MMR, but chickenpox vaccination was not part of their routine vaccinations. The temporary catch-up programme is designed to give eligible children from that earlier group the chickenpox protection they did not previously receive.

What if my child has already had chickenpox?

If your child has already had chickenpox, they do not need the selective catch-up MMRV dose for chickenpox protection. The official guidance says that a parent or carer’s report of previous chickenpox is enough for the practice to decide that the child does not require the catch-up vaccination for this purpose, so the history does not need to be independently verified.

However, if you are not sure whether your child has had chickenpox, the official parent information says it is better for them to have the vaccine. MMRV is safe for a child who has previously had chickenpox.

What if my child has already had the chickenpox vaccine?

The programme is aimed at children who have not already had two doses of a chickenpox vaccine. If your child has had two doses, they do not need the selective catch-up dose because they have already received the recommended chickenpox protection. Having one dose does not automatically rule your child out. Their GP practice will look at their vaccination history when deciding what they need. If you are unsure how many doses your child has received, check their vaccination record or ask the practice.

What if my child has already had two MMR vaccines?

Having already had two MMR vaccines does not automatically exclude a child from the selective MMRV catch-up programme.

The catch-up MMRV dose is also providing chickenpox protection. Official guidance says it is safe for a child who has already received two MMR doses to receive MMRV, meaning some children may receive a third vaccine dose containing the MMR components.

So, if your child is in the eligible birth-date range and has not had chickenpox or two chickenpox vaccine doses, having already had two MMR vaccines does not by itself remove them from the catch-up offer.

What if my child has missed an MMR vaccine?

This is a catch-up offer for chickenpox protection. It does not replace the usual catch-up arrangements for children who have missed MMR vaccinations.

If your child has missed MMR doses, or you are not sure which vaccinations they have had, speak to your GP practice. They can check your child’s record and tell you what they need. You do not need to work out the vaccination schedule yourself.

What if my child was born outside the eligible dates?

The selective catch-up programme is based on the specified date-of-birth range.

Children born before 1st January 2020 are not part of this particular catch-up programme. Children born from 1st September 2022 onwards are covered by the newer routine MMRV arrangements according to their vaccination schedule.

Being outside this particular cohort does not necessarily mean a child cannot receive vaccination. Children who have missed routine vaccinations can have other catch-up arrangements, so speak to your GP practice if you are concerned.

When does the programme start and finish?

The selective catch-up programme starts on 1st November 2026 and is due to run until 31st March 2028. It is a time-limited programme for the specified cohort, rather than a permanent offer of chickenpox vaccination to all older children.

Will I be contacted by the NHS?

Eligible children should be identified and contacted by their GP practice during the programme. Official parent information says this could be by letter, text message, telephone or email. If you believe your child is eligible but have not been contacted, speak to your GP practice and ask about the MMRV selective catch-up programme.

Do I need to do anything before 1st November?

There is no separate application for the selective catch-up programme. However, if you think your child may be eligible, it is useful to have their vaccination information to hand, including their date of birth, whether they have had chickenpox, how many doses of a chickenpox or varicella-containing vaccine they have received, and whether they have had their routine MMR vaccinations.

If your child has missed routine vaccinations, you do not need to wait until November before contacting your GP practice about getting them up to date. You can speak to the practice now.

What does MMRV protect against?

MMRV is a combined vaccine protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, also known as varicella.

The selective catch-up programme is intended to add chickenpox protection for children who were vaccinated under the previous MMR arrangements and therefore did not receive chickenpox vaccination as part of their routine programme.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

This is an England-only NHS programme.

The dates and eligibility rules in this article should not be assumed to apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Each nation has its own vaccination arrangements.

What parents need to do

If your child was born between 1st January 2020 and 31st August 2022:

1. Check whether they have had chickenpox.
2. Check whether they have had a chickenpox vaccine, and how many doses.
3. Look out for contact from your GP practice from November 2026.
4. If you think your child should be included but you have not heard from your GP practice, contact them.
5. If your child has missed MMR vaccinations or you are unsure what they have had, speak to your GP practice. They can check their record and tell you what they need.

Information checked

This article was checked against the latest official information from GOV.UK, NHS England, UK Health Security Agency guidance and NHS vaccination information, including the MMRV selective catch-up resources and the updated guidance for healthcare professionals.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about the NHS MMRV selective catch-up programme in England based on official guidance available when checked. It is not personal medical advice. Vaccination arrangements and clinical guidance can change. If you are unsure whether your child is eligible or what vaccinations they need, speak to your GP practice or another appropriate NHS healthcare professional.