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Original poster

Chicken Pox Jab

20 replies

squishymarshmellow · 02/01/2026 09:44

Hello! I saw the news that the chicken pox jab will be rolled out with MMR for babies and catch up doses up to the age of 6.

My son is 10, despite being in the eye of a chicken pox storm more than once, he has never had chicken pox. Is is worth me asking about the jab for him?

Some background, not sure if this is relevant at all, but when my mum was pregnant with me, she had a chicken pox jab due to possible exposure as she'd never had it. I also have never had CP, even when my brother caught it and my son hasn't had it.

I know it's worse the older you get, and I'm not sure if theres some generational jab immunity or genetic immunity so dithering on whether to go for it.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 02/01/2026 09:53

you could ask but they might say no. They injection is available privately though in Boots and Superdrug.
.

Mooselooseinmyhoose · 02/01/2026 09:54

Hi OP. You wont get the jab on the NHS but can pay privately.

I set a deadline for my youngest by which I was going to pay if he didn't catch it and he had it literally 2 weeks before.

If you can afford it id definitely consider paying for it as it can be worse the older they catch it.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 02/01/2026 09:56

I wonder if he had it, but nothing in the way of symptoms? My brother had three tiny spots on his stomach, nothing else at all, then I had the 100% coverage, basically the whole set of symptoms at 14! Not nice as a teenager but having nursed DH as an adult, it is bloody awful then!

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MannersAreAll · 02/01/2026 09:59

They won't give him it on the NHS unfortunately. It'll be difficult enough for them to catch all the children in the age range set and they won't give it outwith that.

It is worth considering paying for it if you think he definitely hasn't had it.

ChipDaleRescueRangers · 02/01/2026 09:59

You 100% wont get it on the NHS but can get it privately in lots of places. We paid when my child was a year old for the 2 vaccinations and have gone through many outbreak at nursery and school snd never caught it so the vaccine works very well.

TheCurious0range · 02/01/2026 10:00

Just get it privately, we had DS vaccinated as soon as he was old enough, it's ridiculous it have been on the schedule before now.

Travellingatthespeedoflight · 02/01/2026 10:01

As above, get it done privately. It’s not cheap but worth it!

DriveVerySlowlyPastNumber23IWantThemToSeeMyHat · 02/01/2026 10:03

Boots do it 😊

Original poster
squishymarshmellow · 02/01/2026 10:42

Thanks for the replies! I think I'll just get it done privately. When we was younger I thought he'd probably just catch it and it would be pretty routine but now he's older it feels more risky.

OP posts:
LoveSandbanks · 02/01/2026 10:45

My middle child had cp at 6 months of age. I was definitely going to get the youngest vaccinated against it but he caught it before I could. Fortunately it wasn’t a very severe case for him. Middle had it so severely that the gp was slightly concerned that he might develop cp encephalitis

There was a local man (around 20 years ago now but these things stay with you) who developed cp in his lungs. Sadly, he didn’t survive.

Thats my fear-mongering for the day 😂

Petalpedal · 02/01/2026 15:58

We got it done privately when dcs were nearly a year old. Financially just think of the inconvenience of cancelling a holiday or a prebooked day out if your dc got ill just before, it makes the cost of the private jabs worth it. I wasn't too concerned about dcs getting seriously ill though as it's pretty rare.

ResusciAnnie · 02/01/2026 16:02

Yup all 3 of mine have had it, seems a complete no-brainer to me.

StealthMama · 02/01/2026 16:16

They can’t give the CP jab to pregnant women… so it’s strange your mum thinks she had it, granted it was some years ago but it’s a complete no no.

I paid for it in boots for my dd and I when she was 1. It’s been rolled out as standard across Europe for years, so we’re quite behind on the Uk.

i would deff pay for not you and your son to be vaccinated. My dh also recently had shingles and we were both fine.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 02/01/2026 17:05

He (and you) are more than likely to have had CP but were not symptomatic. DS2 had CP at one week old, very mild, I wouldn’t have suspected if his two year old brother hadn’t got it at the same time, and he’s never had it again.
You definitely won’t get it on the NHS.
Practice nurse - gave my first today. What’s surprised us is that it’s the MMRV now or nothing. No option for parents to have MMR only. Will be interesting to see how it pans out with the vaccine hesitant which seem to be growing in number since COVID.

Dinkiedoo · 02/01/2026 18:22

Chicken pox vaccine is not given in pregnancy. It's is contraindicated.

If you want your son vaccinated you may have to pay

Msjwosjfbewak · 02/01/2026 23:50

Sorry to jump on this but I have a 18 month old should theyhave this? Or is there a rule if they don’t have cp by a certain age they should? I’m confused and what to do Whats best ? What does the jab do? Give it to them?

DemonsandMosquitoes · 03/01/2026 08:11

Msjwosjfbewak · 02/01/2026 23:50

Sorry to jump on this but I have a 18 month old should theyhave this? Or is there a rule if they don’t have cp by a certain age they should? I’m confused and what to do Whats best ? What does the jab do? Give it to them?

Yes they’ll be eligible for one or two doses of MMRV depending on date of birth. It’s combined with MMR vaccine which your child will need a booster of at 3years 4months. There’s no choice to have MMR only, it’s MMRV or nothing. Doesn’t matter if child has already had CP, won’t harm to vaccinate.

ErrolTheDragon · 03/01/2026 08:29

squishymarshmellow · 02/01/2026 10:42

Thanks for the replies! I think I'll just get it done privately. When we was younger I thought he'd probably just catch it and it would be pretty routine but now he's older it feels more risky.

We got dd done when she was in her early teens (over 10 years ago now) - she didn’t want the risk of an unnecessary illness during her gcse/a level/uni years.

Hopello · 04/01/2026 12:32

I paid for the vaccine back in 2024 for my then nearly 7yo and 1yo as my oldest had still not go it and each outbreak stressed me out, best £300 I spent. I’d recommend you vaccinate soon for you both. We did it with Boots and they were fab.

MaggieFS · 04/01/2026 12:36

Petalpedal · 02/01/2026 15:58

We got it done privately when dcs were nearly a year old. Financially just think of the inconvenience of cancelling a holiday or a prebooked day out if your dc got ill just before, it makes the cost of the private jabs worth it. I wasn't too concerned about dcs getting seriously ill though as it's pretty rare.

Also the reasons we had it done privately. Plus I have no idea how we would have managed with work if DC had caught it. That was my biggest worry.

And for those saying for the majority it’s not serious, that’s quite correct. But the gamble is that for some it is, and even when it’s not, like my DB, he has permanent facial scarring from scratching the spots as a toddler.

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