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Chickenpox vaccine in the UK: who gets it free, and who needs to pay?

ByZain Rajabali

For years, the UK was one of the few countries that didn’t vaccinate children against chickenpox. That’s changed: children are now offered it on the NHS. But plenty of older children, teenagers and adults have never had chickenpox or the vaccine, and they’re the people who usually ask us about it.

This is general information, not personal advice. Whether the vaccine is right for you is confirmed at your appointment.

The short answer

  • Young children now get it free on the NHS, as part of the MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox) at 12 and 18 months. Older children born on or after 1 January 2020 are also offered it.
  • The NHS also offers it to healthy people in close contact with someone at high risk from chickenpox, and to some healthcare workers.
  • Everyone else can have it privately. At MediPill it’s £90 per dose, and the course is two doses: £180.
  • Two doses are needed, usually 4 to 8 weeks apart.

Who gets the chickenpox vaccine free on the NHS?

Children. The NHS says children are now offered the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, with doses at 12 months and 18 months. Older children born on or after 1 January 2020 are also offered 1 or 2 doses.

Close contacts of people at high risk. The NHS recommends the chickenpox vaccine if you’re healthy and all of these apply:

  • you’re in regular or close contact with someone at risk of getting seriously ill from chickenpox, such as a child with leukaemia or an adult having chemotherapy
  • you’re 9 months old or over
  • you’ve not had chickenpox before
  • you’ve not had 2 doses of the MMRV or chickenpox vaccine
  • you’re not eligible for the MMRV vaccine

Some healthcare workers who aren’t immune and have close contact with patients may also be offered it, usually through their employer.

If you think you or your family qualify, the NHS advises contacting your GP surgery.

Who pays for it privately?

Mostly older children, teenagers and adults who’ve never had chickenpox and aren’t covered by the NHS groups above. The NHS explains that chickenpox is usually mild, but can be very serious for some people, including pregnant women, babies and people with a weakened immune system.

Private vaccination is often chosen by:

  • teenagers and young adults heading to university or travelling
  • adults who never had chickenpox as a child
  • parents of older children born before 2020, who aren’t in the NHS programme

If you’re not sure whether you’ve had chickenpox, the NHS says you may need a blood test to check.

How the vaccine is given

The NHS says the chickenpox vaccine is given as an injection, and you need 2 doses, usually 4 to 8 weeks apart.

At MediPill, it’s £90 per dose (£180 for the two-dose course), including a pharmacist consultation. We vaccinate from 12 months old, at all four branches. Details and booking are on our chickenpox vaccine page.

Who shouldn’t have it

It’s a live vaccine, so the NHS says it isn’t recommended for:

  • people with a weakened immune system, for example because of HIV or chemotherapy
  • pregnant women (and you should avoid getting pregnant for 1 month after the last dose)
  • babies under 9 months
  • anyone who’s had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose or an ingredient, including neomycin or gelatin
  • anyone who’s had the MMR vaccine in the last 4 weeks, or is due it in the next 4 weeks

If you have a high temperature or feel too unwell for your usual activities, wait until you’re better.

Common questions

Is the chickenpox vaccine free on the NHS now? For young children, yes, as part of the MMRV vaccine, and for children born on or after 1 January 2020. For most adults and older children, no, unless they’re a close contact of someone at high risk.

How much is the chickenpox vaccine privately? At MediPill it’s £90 per dose, and the course is two doses, so £180. Other providers set their own prices.

Can adults have the chickenpox vaccine? Yes, if you’ve never had chickenpox. A pharmacist will check your history and whether it’s suitable.

Can I have it if I’m planning a pregnancy? The NHS says to avoid getting pregnant for 1 month after your last dose, and you can’t have it while pregnant. Talk to a pharmacist about timing.

Chickenpox vaccination in Oxford

Book on our chickenpox vaccine page, or see our other private vaccinations. Questions first? Get in touch and a pharmacist will come back to you.

Sources

  1. Chickenpox vaccine – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccine/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
  2. MediPill chickenpox vaccine price and ages: our chickenpox vaccine page (23 September 2026)

Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 23 September 2026 · Next review due: September 2027

This article is general health information and is not a substitute for a consultation. It does not recommend any specific vaccine for you. Suitability is decided at an individual assessment with a pharmacist, and NHS eligibility by your GP surgery.

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