At Ingrave Pharmacy in Brentwood, we offer private chickenpox vaccination for children and adults, led by an Independent Prescriber with over five years of running the clinic.
Book online or call us directly. We offer flexible slots Monday to Friday with no long waiting lists.
Our pharmacist reviews your medical history and confirms the vaccine is suitable for you. The whole consultation takes just a few minutes.
You receive your vaccination on the same visit. Before you leave, we confirm your second dose schedule and answer any questions.
Anyone who has never had chickenpox is at risk. The virus travels through the air and spreads by direct contact with blisters.
Much more severe illness with higher complication risk
Particularly vulnerable and need special protection
Serious risks to both mother and baby
Those on immunosuppressant medication face elevated risk
We use Varivax, a licensed varicella vaccine used widely in private clinics in the UK. As of 1 January 2026, the NHS introduced routine childhood varicella vaccination (via the combined MMRV vaccine) for children born on or after 1 July 2024.
Varivax contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus. Your immune system learns to recognise and fight it without you getting the disease.
Two doses are required for full protection. The spacing between doses depends on your age, and our pharmacist will set the correct schedule at your first appointment.
The chickenpox vaccine is suitable from 12 months of age. Children between 1 and 12 years old need two doses, given four to eight weeks apart.
If your child was born on or after 1 July 2024, please contact your GP to discuss their NHS eligibility for the routine MMRV program. Our private vaccination service is focused on providing protection for those outside NHS eligibility, including adolescents, adults, and children not covered by the routine or catch-up programs.
Adults who have never had chickenpox face a much higher risk of serious illness. The disease tends to worsen with age.
Two doses are given four to eight weeks apart for adults. Full protection builds up a few weeks after the second dose.
Catching chickenpox during pregnancy carries real risks for both mother and baby. Infection in the first 20 weeks is linked to a small risk of foetal varicella syndrome, which can affect foetal development.
The vaccine cannot be given during pregnancy because it contains a live virus. Women planning a pregnancy who have no prior immunity should be vaccinated at least one month before trying to conceive.
Your appointment at Ingrave Pharmacy takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Here is what to expect:
The pharmacist reviews your health history and confirms suitability for Varivax.
You sign a consent form before any treatment is given.
The vaccine is given as a subcutaneous injection, usually in the upper arm.
We explain what to watch for and confirm your second dose date before you leave.
These two vaccines are often confused. They protect against different stages of the same virus and are not interchangeable.
Most people tolerate Varivax well. Any side effects are usually mild and clear up within a few days.
Our pharmacist, Christopher Okworu, is a qualified Independent Prescriber who assesses your suitability and administers Varivax with full clinical oversight.
We vaccinate patients from 12 months of age through to adulthood, covering the full range of chickenpox vaccine schedules in a single clinic.
No separate appointment needed for the jab. Once cleared as suitable, you receive your first dose on the same visit.
We confirm your return date at your first appointment so you never miss the second dose needed for full protection.
Patients travel to us from Shenfield, Billericay, Ingatestone, and across Essex for private chickenpox vaccination they cannot access locally on the NHS.
We are conveniently located in Ingrave and provide pharmacy services to patients across the wider Brentwood district and beyond.
Brentwood CM13 2BN, United Kingdom
ingravepharmacy@gmail.com
Bus 21 & 79 stop right outside
A blood test can check your immunity levels. If no immunity is found, Varivax can then be given safely at our Brentwood clinic.
No school exclusion is required after the vaccine. A mild rash at the injection site is possible but is not considered contagious.
Partial protection begins a few weeks after the first dose. Full protection is reached after the second dose is completed.
Varivax can be given on the same day as MMR or separated by at least four weeks. Your pharmacist will confirm the best approach at your consultation.
Low-dose steroid use is not always a contraindication, but a clinical review is needed first. Please call us before booking so we can advise appropriately.
Secure your family’s health with our fast, private chickenpox vaccination service. Led by an expert Independent Prescriber at Ingrave Pharmacy, we make protection simple and accessible right here in the heart of Brentwood.
