Commencement of MMRV Catch Up Programme

Dear GP colleagues

A one-dose MMRV selective catch-up programme will be delivered by GPs between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2028 (as their clinic capacity allows) as agreed as part of the introduction of MMRV.

This catch-up is separate to the current GP Campaign to increase uptake of MMR, and some children will be invited as part of the GP campaign to catch up on missed MMR-containing vaccinations, and also as part of the MMRV Selective Catch-up programme to give some protection against varicella.

• One dose of MMRV will be offered to any child aged from 3 years 4 months to under 6 years on 31 December 2025 (date of birth on or after 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2022) with no history of chickenpox disease or two doses of varicella vaccination
• Children presenting for the selective catch-up do not require MMRV vaccine if parents volunteer that the child has had previous chickenpox infection or two prior varicella-containing vaccines.
• There is no requirement for practices to check the history for those who respond to the catch-up offer
• The catch-up will run from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028, GPs can invite at any point during that period
• Call only, no recall required
• For children who have missed routine doses of MMR, these children should be brought up to date using the UKHSA uncertain or incomplete immunisation algorithm, which has been updated to reflect these changes.

This has previously been communicated via:

• Bipartite letter published 31 October 2025
• Regional Child Imms Changes T & F Group
• Vaccination and Screening Leadership Bulletin, 06 November 2025
• Primary Care Bulletin, 06 November 2025
• UKHSA Webinar: changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule 2.0, 03 December 2025

Please contact our team directly with any queries at england.londonimms@nhs.net