Petition · past parliament
Introduce the Varicella Zoster (Chickenpox) into the UK Childhood Immunisations.
Closed
587 signatures
What the petition asks
Chickenpox is pretty much unheard of in the USA, Japan and Germany. A vaccination was approved in 1995 and has been used for 20 years. It was combined with the MMR vaccine creating an MMRV vaccine in 2005. The World Health Organisation includes it as one of children's vital immunisations.
Chickenpox complications include severe skin infections, scars, brain damage and death. There is no reason children should suffer these complications when there is a safe vaccine already available.
Studies have confirmed that the cost to the NHS would be offset by not having to deal with chickenpox complications, antibiotics prescribed, hospital, GP appointments aswell as time taken off work by parents caring for children infected with Chickenpox.
Studies have confirmed that the cost to the NHS would be offset by not having to deal with chickenpox complications, antibiotics prescribed, hospital, GP appointments aswell as time taken off work by parents caring for children infected with Chickenpox.
Timeline
| 14 Apr 2016 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 14 Oct 2016 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
587
Status
Closed
Opened
14 Apr 2016
Closed
14 Oct 2016
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.