Throwing out old dogma: time for introduction of universal VZV vaccination in the UK

Abstract

There has been a reticence to introduce universal varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccines in the UK because of a theoretical concern of increased herpes zoster infections. However, this has not been borne out in real-world data. Here, I argue that, in reality, many parents are vaccinating their children privately and, thus, we do not know the degree of inequity that this creates. The fairest option going forward is to introduce universal VZV vaccination in the UK.