Minister thanks practice nurses for making chickenpox vaccination possible

The public health minister has extended her ‘heartfelt thanks’ to practice nurses and colleagues as they begin delivering the NHS’s first-ever chickenpox vaccination programme.

In an exclusive op-ed for our sister title Pulse, public health and prevention minister Ashley Dalton said the ongoing dedication of nurses, GPs and other healthcare workers would make this major milestone possible.

As of this month, GP practices will start to offer a combined MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months of age to add chickenpox (varicella) to the protections against measles, mumps and rubella.

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NHS England said the initiative would see ‘hundreds of thousands’ of families with young children be offered protection against chickenpox and that it is expected to save the NHS £15m a year in costs for treating the condition.

In her article for Pulse, Ms Dalton wrote: ‘As we usher in the NHS’s first-ever chickenpox vaccination programme, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the GPs, nurses, and brilliant NHS staff whose dedication will help make this milestone possible.

‘They have stepped up time and again to help keep us and our children vaccinated and safe, and as of last week, they will be welcoming the next generation through their doors for their MMRV jab.’

She described the commitment of nurses and GPs to ‘delivering life-saving care’ as ‘at the heart of this transformative step for families across England’.

‘It’s also core to our pledge in the 10-Year Health Plan to move the NHS further towards a service which doesn’t just treat sickness but helps prevent it.’

The minister said the move to add chickenpox to the childhood vaccination programme would mean ‘fewer sleepless nights, fewer missed days at nursery or school, and fewer parents forced to take time off work’.

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‘For parents, the anxiety of watching a child suffer through chickenpox – often mild, but sometimes all too severe – will soon be a thing of the past,’ she added.

And she reiterated that countries already using the MMRV vaccine ‘have seen dramatic reductions in chickenpox cases and related hospital admissions’.

‘This is about trust in our health service, in the expertise of our clinicians, and in the power of prevention,’ added Ms Dalton.

‘By working together, we’re not only safeguarding children’s health but also supporting working families and strengthening our NHS for the future.

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‘To every GP, nurse, and healthcare professional: thank you. Your efforts are giving parents peace of mind and ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life.’

A version of this article was originally published by our sister title Pulse