Collection

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

Documents relating to the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccination programme.

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.

Guidance

An MMRV training slideset for healthcare practitioners is available to download.

Programme documents

Updates to this page

Published 31 October 2025
Last updated 18 November 2025 show all updates
  1. Training slide set for healthcare practitioners updated

  2. Healthcare practitioner slideset linked.

  3. First published.