Chickenpox (varicella) vaccination is available privately at our Edinburgh pharmacies for children and adults who aren't covered by the NHS routine schedule or the small number of NHS-funded exceptions. It's usually given as two doses, four to eight weeks apart. NHS Scotland has started offering a chickenpox vaccine to babies as part of the routine childhood schedule from January 2026, but this doesn't cover older children, teenagers or most adults, which is where private vaccination usually comes in.
Is the chickenpox vaccine on the NHS in Scotland now?
Yes, but only for young children on the new routine schedule, not for the wider population. From January 2026, Public Health Scotland confirmed that children are offered a varicella vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme for the first time in Scotland, using a combined vaccine that also protects against measles, mumps and rubella (MMRV), given at 12 and 18 months of age for children born on or after 1 January 2025. Children born a little earlier are offered catch-up doses on a slightly different timetable, and NHS inform sets out exactly which appointments apply depending on your child's date of birth.
Outside this new infant programme, the single chickenpox vaccine remains available on the NHS only in specific circumstances: for people in close contact with someone at higher risk of serious illness from chickenpox, such as a family member having chemotherapy, and for healthcare workers who aren't immune and have patient contact. NHS guidance is clear that outside these situations, chickenpox vaccination for travel, school, work or general peace of mind isn't provided free, which is why most people asking us about it are looking for a private appointment.
Who might still want the chickenpox vaccine privately?
Anyone who isn't a young child on the new routine schedule and isn't in one of the narrow NHS exception groups, but who still wants protection. That includes older children and teenagers who missed chickenpox naturally and aren't yet in the new infant programme, adults heading into shared student accommodation or new jobs where chickenpox could spread quickly through a household, and parents who'd rather protect a child before nursery or school rather than wait for infection. It's also relevant for adults planning a pregnancy, since chickenpox caught during pregnancy carries higher risks, and for anyone unsure whether they've already had chickenpox as a child.
If you're not sure whether you've had chickenpox before, that matters for the consultation. Most people who grew up in the UK will have had it, but a childhood without a confirmed diagnosis, or time spent in a country with lower chickenpox circulation, can leave some adults without natural immunity.
How many doses of the chickenpox vaccine do you need, and how are they spaced?
Two doses for children and adults, usually four to eight weeks apart. NHS guidance confirms the vaccine is given as two doses, usually four to eight weeks apart, or three months apart for babies aged 9 to 12 months who are having it under the narrower NHS eligibility rules rather than the new routine infant programme. Both doses are needed for the best level of protection; a single dose gives some protection but not the full benefit.
We always check whether you've had chickenpox before and run through the usual exclusions with you at the first appointment, so there are no surprises about when the second dose is due. — Emmanuel Ebube Umezulike, superintendent pharmacist
NHS data shows two doses give around 98% protection in children and about 75% protection in adults, and no further booster doses are currently needed after the course is complete. If you do go on to catch chickenpox after vaccination, symptoms are generally milder than in someone who hasn't been vaccinated.
What age can a child have the chickenpox vaccine?
From 9 months old under the narrower NHS eligibility criteria described above, with a minimum interval of three months between doses at that age. For most children coming to us privately outside the new infant NHS programme, the standard two-dose schedule spaced four to eight weeks apart applies from around one year old upwards, in line with general UK guidance for the single-antigen vaccine. Your pharmacist will confirm the right minimum age and spacing based on your child's age and any previous vaccination history.
Who shouldn't have the chickenpox vaccine?
It's a live vaccine, so it isn't suitable for everyone. NHS guidance lists people with a weakened immune system, pregnant women, babies under 9 months old, and anyone who's had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose or to an ingredient such as neomycin or gelatin as people who should not have it. It also shouldn't be given within 4 weeks of an MMR vaccine unless the two are given on the same day, and anyone vaccinated is advised to avoid becoming pregnant for one month afterwards. Your pharmacist will ask about all of this at your consultation before recommending vaccination.
Can I get a chickenpox vaccine at the pharmacy?
Yes. Chickenpox vaccination is available privately at our Edinburgh branches for children and adults outside the routine infant NHS programme and the narrow NHS exception groups. Bring details of any previous chickenpox diagnosis or vaccination history to your appointment, and let us know if you're planning a pregnancy or have a household member with a weakened immune system, as this can affect the timing and suitability of the vaccine.
Booking your chickenpox vaccination in Edinburgh
If meningitis protection is also on your mind for a child heading to nursery or school, or for a young person moving into shared accommodation, take a look at our meningitis B vaccine in Edinburgh page too. You can check current details for the Westfield Road travel clinic and Murrayfield travel clinic, and if you're weighing up chickenpox against other travel or family vaccinations, our where to get travel vaccinations in Edinburgh page is a useful starting point. Book your chickenpox vaccination consultation online and tell us the ages of everyone who needs vaccinating so we can plan your appointments together.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a chicken pox vaccine at the pharmacy?
Yes. Our Edinburgh pharmacies offer chickenpox vaccination privately for children and adults who fall outside the new NHS routine infant programme and the narrow NHS exception groups, following a short consultation.
Will the NHS offer a chicken pox vaccine in 2026?
It already has, but only for young children. From January 2026, NHS Scotland introduced a combined chickenpox vaccine into the routine childhood schedule at 12 and 18 months. It doesn't extend to older children, teenagers or adults.
Is the chickenpox vaccine available through the NHS in Scotland?
For young children on the new routine schedule, yes. Outside that, it's only available on the NHS for close contacts of people at higher risk from chickenpox and for non-immune healthcare workers with patient contact. Everyone else needs to arrange it privately.
How many doses of chickenpox vaccine are needed?
Two doses, usually given four to eight weeks apart for children and adults, or three months apart for babies aged 9 to 12 months under the narrower NHS eligibility rules. Both doses are needed for full protection.
What age can a child have the chickenpox vaccine?
From 9 months old under NHS eligibility rules for close contacts of at-risk people, with three months between doses at that age. For most children having it privately, the standard schedule of two doses four to eight weeks apart applies from around one year old.
Who shouldn't have the chickenpox vaccine?
It's a live vaccine, so it isn't recommended for pregnant women, babies under 9 months, people with a weakened immune system, or anyone with a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose or an ingredient. Your pharmacist checks this with you before vaccinating.
Do I need two doses if I'm an adult?
Yes. Adults are given two doses, usually four to eight weeks apart, and this gives around 75% protection according to NHS figures, compared with around 98% in children. No further booster is currently recommended after the course.
Sources
- Chickenpox vaccine — NHS
- MMRV vaccine — NHS inform
- Further changes to childhood vaccinations in Scotland — Public Health Scotland
General information, not a substitute for a consultation. Your pharmacist will recommend what is right for you after assessing your health and plans.
