Chickenpox Vaccination Service

You can book a chickenpox vaccine at a selection of our community pharmacies. Want to learn more? Here we explain what it is, who’s at risk of chickenpox and how to know if the vaccine is the right choice for you.

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a disease caused by a viral infection. This disease is more properly known as varicella, as chickenpox is caused by an infection of the varicella zoster virus. It is highly contagious and a common infection that most people catch in their childhood. Over 90% of people in the UK have had it.

For most people, the disease is relatively mild. However, in rare cases chickenpox can cause more serious complications.

How do you catch chickenpox?

Chickenpox is highly contagious, meaning it’s very easy to catch.

You catch chickenpox by coming into contact with the varicella zoster virus that causes it. This can happen if someone who is infected sneezes or coughs, and you breathe in droplets they’ve expelled that have the virus in it. You can also catch the virus by touching an infected person’s skin or by touching something they’ve recently touched.

People are most contagious from two days before their spots appear and until their spots crust over. This means people can spread the virus before they know they’re infected.

Who is at risk from chickenpox?

Anyone can catch chickenpox if they’ve not already had it. For most people it is a mild infection but in rare cases, chickenpox can cause more serious complications. These can include bacterial skin infections, pneumonia and heart problems. Those at most risk include:

• Anyone with a weakened immune system, such as someone with an illness like HIV/AIDS, or someone taking immunosuppressant medications or undergoing chemotherapy.
• Pregnant women, as chickenpox can be passed to their unborn child and can cause severe disease and serious birth defects.

Who should have the chickenpox vaccine?

The NHS recommends the chickenpox jab should be given to:

• People who have not previously had chickenpox, who are regularly around people with weakened immune systems (such as family members or carers of people with weakened immune systems).
• People who have not previously had chickenpox, who are healthcare workers.

In these instances, the chickenpox vaccine is given more to protect vulnerable people around you, than to protect yourself. However, our vaccination service is available to anyone looking to protect themselves from the infection, as well as those eligible for the NHS service.

Who is the chickenpox vaccination service suitable for?

Our chickenpox vaccination service may be suitable for adults and children who: 

• haven’t already had the vaccine
• haven’t had chickenpox before
• are at least two years old, and less than 65 years old
• are not pregnant or breastfeeding
• are not immunocompromised (a weakened immune system)
• haven’t had an allergic reaction to a vaccine before
• don’t have a temperature on the day of the appointment.

Patients aged two to 12 will receive two doses of the vaccine:

• one dose at their first appointment
• a second dose ideally six weeks after the first dose.

Patients aged 13 to 64 will receive two doses of the vaccine:

• one dose at their first appointment
• a second dose after four to eight weeks.

How long does the chickenpox vaccine last?

In children who have had both doses of the chickenpox vaccine, the vast majority develop lifelong immunity to chickenpox.

In teenagers and adults, around three quarters of people who have had the chickenpox vaccine develop a lifelong immunity.

Is there a chickenpox vaccine for babies?

There is no chickenpox vaccine that is recommended for babies under nine months old. 

The chickenpox vaccine is usually given to children aged two or older, but in some circumstances can be given to children between nine months and two years old.

Can I book for other people?

You can book chickenpox vaccination appointments for up to four people. You will all attend the same appointment and your group will need to arrive at the pharmacy at the same time.

Please note:

• If any other people in your booking are aged 18 or over, you will need to have their consent to book the appointment on their behalf.
• If anyone in your booking is under 18, you will need to provide their legal guardian’s details and they must be accompanied to the appointment by their legal guardian.

Can I book for other people if I’m not getting the chickenpox vaccine?

Yes, you can book for other people if you’re not getting a vaccine. We will ask for your details and contact information to manage the booking.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

We’ll send you an appointment confirmation email with contact details for the pharmacy. Please call the pharmacy as soon as you can to let them know if you can’t make it to your appointment. They’ll be able to help you if you need to reschedule.

Where can I find out more?

If you want to know more about the chickenpox vaccine, read our helpful guides on the costs.

If you have other questions, or you would like to talk to someone face-to-face, then our pharmacists are more than happy to answer any questions you have about the chickenpox vaccine. Find your nearest Well Pharmacy.