A new NHS Wales catch-up programme offering the combined measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox vaccine (MMRV) began yesterday.
Who is eligible?
Children born 1 January 2020 – 31 August 2022
Eligible children who have not had chickenpox or two previous doses of varicella vaccine can receive a single catch-up MMRV dose.
GP practices are expected to notify eligible families by 31 March 2027. This is not a conventional appointment recall programme: families will be informed about eligibility and how to request vaccination.
Why it matters: Chickenpox can cause complications, and vaccination can reduce infections and transmission. The programme extends protection to children who were too old to benefit from the routine MMRV schedule introduced in January.
The Welsh Government has specifically warned that the notification approach must not disadvantage families who face barriers to accessing healthcare.
Status: Programme operational from 1 November, following guidance published on 5 October.
