The majority of parents want the chickenpox vaccination to be made routine, so their little one does not have to suffer from the childhood illness. 

According to a study published in the journal Vaccine, three-quarters of mums and dads said they would support the jab being made available on the NHS, as it is not currently part of the standard set of childhood immunisations. 

Dr Sue Sherman, reader in psychology at Keele University who led the study, said: “Although chickenpox is usually a mild illness, for some individuals it can be a severe illness, requiring hospitalisation and rarely in children, resulting in death.”

There is also a greater chance of children who have recently experienced chickenpox to suffer from a more serious form of Group A Strep infection.

Although youngsters usually only have mild symptoms of Group A Strep, the recent invasive form of the virus has resulted in the deaths of more than 30 children in the UK since September. 

This is likely to be due to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions meaning children are mixing more than they have been for the last three years, allowing viruses to spread more easily. 

While chickenpox is not usually dangerous, it is very uncomfortable for the sufferer, with itchy spots covering the body for several days. It is also usually accompanied by a high temperature, loss of appetite and aches and pains. 

Despite the chickenpox vaccination not currently being available on the NHS, parents can book an appointment at a Surrey pharmacy to inoculate their youngsters.