Angie Bunce-Mason, a mother from Barnstaple, North Devon, tragically lost her daughter Elana in 2009 after the three-year-old contracted chickenpox, which led to severe internal complications. Although Elana initially showed typical symptoms of chickenpox, her condition worsened rapidly during the Easter weekend, resulting in a cardiac arrest just five days after infection. Despite resuscitation efforts, Elana passed away, with post-mortem results revealing internal lesions on her lungs caused by the virus.
Reflecting on her daughter’s death, Angie shared, “We were a happy little family who loved dog walks and picnics. This should never happen again.”
This heartbreaking loss propelled Angie and her husband Adam into passionate advocates for the chickenpox vaccine’s inclusion in the NHS childhood immunisation programme—a move already standard in other countries like the US, Canada, and Australia since the mid-1990s. Over the past sixteen years, the couple has tirelessly campaigned, participating in media interviews, fundraising walks, and lobbying efforts to raise awareness and push for change.
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Their persistence has finally paid off. Starting January next year, the NHS will offer the chickenpox vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, administered in two doses at 12 and 18 months alongside the MMR vaccine. There will also be a catch-up programme for older children who missed earlier doses.
Angie expressed mixed feelings about the announcement: “We were thrilled the vaccine is being introduced, but frustrated it has taken so long. How many families have suffered while waiting for this?”
Chickenpox is often dismissed as a mild childhood illness, but rare severe complications like encephalitis, pneumonia, and even death can occur, particularly among vulnerable groups such as newborns, pregnant women, and adults. Angie hopes the new policy will change perceptions and protect more children. “When parents tell me chickenpox is no big deal, I remind them that it could be devastating for their child. You can’t vaccinate once it’s too late.”
Elana’s older brother Reuben, now in his twenties, was only six at the time and still carries guilt, believing he may have passed the virus on to his sister. The family continues to live with their loss, especially during holidays and anniversaries. Angie recalls, “The first New Year’s Eve after losing Elana was unbearable. While others celebrated, I was mourning.”
Despite the pain, the family finds solace in keeping Elana’s memory alive. “We talk about Elana every day—she is the butterfly we always see.”
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock highlighted the significance of the new vaccine rollout, saying it will “give parents the power to protect their children” and help reduce both illness and economic burden. The Department of Health estimates chickenpox-related illness costs the UK around £24 million annually in lost income and productivity.
While uptake for some childhood vaccines remains below target, officials are hopeful that the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine will be widely embraced. Experts agree it has the potential to significantly reduce severe cases and prevent future tragedies.
For Angie and her family, the vaccine rollout is a bittersweet victory. “We had to turn a terrible negative into a positive,” she said. “Now, many children will be protected—and their families won’t have to face the horror of losing a child like we did.”