Chickenpox Vaccination
Do I need the chickenpox vaccine?
Most UK adults are already immune — a childhood bout of chickenpox does that. The vaccine is for the people who slipped through the net. Here is who that actually is.
| Traveller | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Advised Children & adults who have never had chickenpox | Chickenpox is far more severe in teenagers and adults than in young children. If you or your child have never had it, two doses give around 98% protection in children and prevent most severe disease in adults. | 2 doses, 28 days apart (from 1 year old). |
| Advised Close contacts of vulnerable people | Living with someone who is pregnant, immunocompromised or seriously ill? Vaccinating non-immune household members protects them indirectly. | 2 doses, 28 days apart. |
| Consider Adults who grew up in tropical countries | Chickenpox spreads less easily in hot climates, so adults raised in South Asia, Africa or the Caribbean are more likely to have missed it — and adult chickenpox is no joke. | 2 doses, 28 days apart. A blood test can check immunity first. |
| Consider Healthcare & childcare workers | Regular close contact with children or patients makes catching — and passing on — chickenpox more likely. | 2 doses, 28 days apart. |
| Not usually needed Anyone who has had chickenpox | One childhood bout gives lifelong immunity for nearly everyone. If you are sure you have had it, you do not need this vaccine — plainly said. | No vaccination needed. |
Unsure about your immunity? Ask at your appointment — and see the travel clinic price list for current fees.
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox (varicella) is one of the most contagious infections there is — the varicella-zoster virus spreads through the air and by contact with blister fluid, and around 90% of non-immune household contacts will catch it. In young children it usually means a week of itchy spots and fever, unpleasant but rarely serious.
In teenagers and adults the picture changes: the rash is heavier, the illness longer, and complications such as pneumonia and skin infections far more common. Chickenpox is also dangerous in pregnancy and for anyone with a weakened immune system — which is why knowing your immunity before adulthood, pregnancy or a long trip genuinely matters.
The virus never fully leaves: after chickenpox it lies dormant in the nerves and can reawaken decades later as shingles. Vaccination gives protection without the wild infection. The NHS currently reserves chickenpox vaccination for specific at-risk groups, so most families arrange it privately — our Camberley clinic runs the full two-dose course.
How the chickenpox vaccine works
A live, weakened form of the virus teaches the immune system to fight off the real thing.
| Who | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Children from 1 year | Two doses give around 98% protection against chickenpox in children. | 2 doses, 28 days apart. |
| Teenagers & adults | Same schedule — protection is slightly lower than in children, but severe disease is largely prevented. | 2 doses, 28 days apart. |
| Not sure if you are immune? | Grew up abroad, or cannot remember having chickenpox? Ask us about checking immunity before committing to the course. | We will advise at your risk assessment. |
This is a live vaccine, so it is not suitable during pregnancy or for people with significantly weakened immune systems — which is exactly who benefits when the people around them are vaccinated instead.
How our travel clinic works
Book online in 2 minutes
Choose a time that suits you — same-week appointments are usually available, and families can be seen together in one visit.
Personalised risk assessment
Your pharmacist reviews your itinerary, health history and previous vaccinations against current UK travel health guidance, and agrees a plan with you.
Two visits, 28 days apart
You will have the first dose at your appointment and we will book the second for 28 days later — course complete within a month.
Where does chickenpox matter?
Everywhere — chickenpox is worldwide. But immunity is worth checking especially if you grew up in a tropical climate, or you are travelling with non-immune children to stay with family:
Frequently asked questions
I think I had chickenpox as a child — do I need the vaccine?
Almost certainly not. One bout gives lifelong immunity for nearly everyone. The vaccine is for people who have never had it — and if you are unsure, immunity can be checked with a blood test.
Why is chickenpox vaccination not offered to everyone on the NHS?
The NHS currently offers it only to specific groups, such as non-immune close contacts of vulnerable people. For everyone else it is available privately at clinics like ours.
How is the vaccine given?
Two injections, 28 days apart, suitable from 1 year old. Protection builds within a few weeks of the second dose.
Is chickenpox really worse for adults?
Yes — markedly. Adults are far more likely to have a heavy rash, a longer illness and complications such as pneumonia. Adult chickenpox is well worth preventing.
What is the link between chickenpox and shingles?
After chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in your nerves and can reactivate years later as shingles. If you are 50 or over, see our shingles vaccination page — the two vaccines tackle different expressions of the same virus.
Can the chickenpox vaccine be given alongside travel vaccines?
Usually yes — most travel vaccines can be given at the same visit, and live vaccines are either given on the same day or spaced 4 weeks apart. Tell us everything you need at the risk assessment and we will build one schedule.
Rated by 1,200+ patients of our Camberley pharmacy and clinics.
GPhC registered pharmacy 1105418 · Superintendent pharmacist Jirina Thielens (GPhC 2069634).
This guide follows UK national travel health guidance (TravelHealthPro / NHS) and was last reviewed in August 2026. Recommendations can change — your consultation always reflects the latest advice.
Never had chickenpox? Two doses close the gap.
Chickenpox vaccination for children and adults at our Camberley clinic — with honest advice on whether you need it at all.
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