Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccination programme

Posted on December 22nd, 2025

Dear Patients,

From 1 January 2026, all children will be offered a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine instead of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) as part of the childhood routine 2-dose vaccination schedule.

Dose 1 will be offered at one year of age and dose 2 will be brought forward from 3 years 4 months to the new 18-month appointment. Information on eligibility and timing of vaccination is available in the routine childhood immunisation schedule and the Introduction of a routine varicella (MMRV) vaccination programme letter.

From 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028 there will be a single dose selective MMRV catch-up programme for older children who have not yet had chickenpox infection or 2 doses of varicella vaccination.

MMR vaccine will no longer be available for the NHS routine childhood programme from 1 January 2026. MMR vaccine will be available for administration outside of the routine childhood programme (for example, for catching up older individuals, where date of birth is on or before 31 December 2019, who have not received 2 doses of MMR and are not eligible for MMRV).

Please click the link below for MMRV Vaccination: a guide for parents and carers.

A guide to the MMRV vaccination

Thanks,

South Street Surgery.