Is the chickenpox vaccine safe, and why is it now being offered to UK children?

As vaccine sceptic attitudes continue to spread in political groups on both sides of the Atlantic, the UK government is now offering vaccination against chickenpox.As of 2 January general practices in the UK will now offer a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for all children born after 2020, although timing differs depending on age.Children born on or after 1 January 2025 will be offered two doses of the jab routinely: one at 12 months of age and the second at 18 months.Those born from 1 July to 31 December 2024 will be offered two doses of MMRV: one when they turn 18 months old and another at age 3 years and 4 months. Children born from 1 September 2022 to 30 June 2024 will be offered one dose at age 3 years and 4 months.There will also be a single dose catch-up programme for children born from…