FAMILIES with young children in Midsomer Norton, Radstock and across England, will now be offered protection against chickenpox as part of their routine childhood vaccinations.

The NHS’s vaccination programme is being expanded to include chickenpox for the first time to help shield young children from getting seriously ill.

Following a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations, GP practices will be able to offer children the chickenpox vaccine from January, combining it with the previous MMR vaccine.

The combined ‘MMRV’ vaccine will now provide protection against chickenpox, also known as varicella, as well as the three other serious diseases which the MMR vaccine protected against: measles, mumps, rubella.

Chickenpox is a common infection in children that spreads easily. It is usually mild but can lead to serious complications which need hospitalisation, including chest infections and fits.

Dr Trevor Smith, regional medical director for NHS England South West said: “Being able to provide protection for children against chickenpox for the first time on the NHS is truly a historic moment.

“Building on the existing programme of routine vaccinations we provide for children to protect them against serious illnesses, this combined vaccine will now protect against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox and will be available for children as part of their usual vaccination schedule.

“This will help us keep our children healthier, enabling them to stay in school and supporting the wider NHS goal of moving from sickness to prevention.”

The latest data indicates that half of children will contract chickenpox by the age of four, and 90 per cent by the age of ten.

Research shows that chickenpox in childhood results in an estimated £24-million in lost income and productivity every year in the UK and, alongside cutting this, the rollout is expected to save the NHS £15-million a year in costs for treating the common condition.