The chickenpox vaccine protects against the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox. It is not part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule.
It is currently only offered on the NHS to people who are in close contact with someone who is particularly vulnerable to chickenpox or its complications. However, we do offer this vaccine as a private service at Midway Pharmacy.
The chickenpox vaccine is recommended for certain individuals, such as:
non-immune healthcare workers
people who come into close contact with someone who has a weakened immune system
This is to lower the chances of infecting people at risk. For example, if you're having chemotherapy treatment, it's advisable that non-immune children close to you are given the chickenpox vaccine.
The vaccine would also be recommended if you were about to start work in a radiotherapy department and had not had chickenpox before.
The vaccine is given as 2 separate injections, usually into the upper arm, 4 to 8 weeks apart.
