Warwickshire Lib Dems Welcome Chickenpox Vaccination Programme

The government's decision to rollout the offer of vaccination against chickenpox to all children in Warwickshire has been welcomed by the county's Liberal Democrats.

The vaccine will be combined with the existing MMR jab which already helps protect against measles, mumps and rubella. Children up to the age of six can catch up on doses when invited.

This will save parents having to pay up to £200 to buy a vaccine privately to protect their children.

From 1 January, the MMRV vaccine will be introduced into the standard list of children's vaccinations in England.

'This is a welcome preventative measure by the government', said Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, leader of the official opposition LibDem group. ‘The first duty of any responsible national and local government is to keep its citizens safe, including its younger ones. The decision is based on expert health recommendation and on scientific evidence from many countries where such a vaccination has been routine for many years.’