Chickenpox vaccine could be given to Guernsey children

Friday, 29 August 2025 15:09

Guernsey Public Health is looking to follow England in providing free chickenpox vaccines for children.

A vaccine against chickenpox will be rolled out on the NHS in England for the first time from January next year.

Ministers there say it will protect against serious complications and save parents time off work.

Guernsey's Public Health tells Island FM it is investigating introducing the jab here.

“Public Health Services and our local Vaccination and Immunisation Committee strongly support the introduction of the combined MMR/Varicella vaccination programme.

"This would replace the current MMR vaccine offered to children at 12 month and 3.5 years of age and is in line with guidance from the UK Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

"We are aware of the recommendation made by the JCVI in 2023 and have been working closely with England, the Devolved Nations and other Crown Dependencies to understand how this would be operationalised in each area.

“Public Health has put in a budget request to be included in the 2026 budget.

"As all are aware there are multiple competing priorities for investment across Health & Social Care and an update will be provided later in the year once the budget process has been finalised, including through the States budget debate in November.”