Some of the links included in this information lead to content created by other organisations and may not be available in Welsh.
18-month appointment:
From 1 January 2026 a new vaccination appointment is added to the childhood immunisation schedule in Wales at 18 months of age.
At this 18-month appointment, babies get the MMRV vaccine (see ‘Introduction of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine’ below) and an additional dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine.
The additional dose of 6-in-1 vaccine is given at this new 18-month appointment to provide Hib protection that was previously given with Hib/MenC).
Introduction of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
From 1 January 2026, a new vaccine called MMRV is introduced to the routine childhood immunisation schedule to help protect against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella) infection.
The MMRV vaccine is given to babies free of charge by the NHS as part their routine childhood vaccinations. MMRV has been used successfully in other countries for many years.
The first dose is given to babies when they are 12 months old.
The second dose is given when they are 18 months old (see ’18-month appointment’ below).
The MMRV vaccine is also given to some eligible children depending on your child’s age and if they’ve had chickenpox infection or the chickenpox vaccine in the past.
The MMR vaccine is still available for some older children or adults who have missed one or both doses of an MMR-containing vaccine, or who are not eligible for the MMRV vaccine.
It is important to have two doses of an MMR-containing vaccine for the best possible protection. You can learn more about the MMRV vaccine at MMRV and MMR vaccines
Chickenpox catch-up programme
There is a chickenpox catch-up programme for eligible children aged between 3 years 4 months to just under 6 years. This programme offers one dose of the MMRV vaccine and runs between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2028. It is for children who have not had a chickenpox infection or two doses of chickenpox vaccine in the past.
For answers to common questions, see the Frequently asked questions about the changes section below.
As the immunisation schedule is changing, there will be a short period of adjustment.
What your child is due will depend on how old they are on 1 January 2026, when the new programme starts.
The vaccination eligibility guide below provides information on which vaccines are given to children and when. Your practice nurse or GP will confirm your child’s eligibility.
It is important they have their vaccines as soon as they are offered.
See the tables below for details:
To see the complete immunisation schedule for Wales, go to Routine immunisation schedules for Wales