Mum whose daughter, 3, died of chickenpox hits out at NHS vaccine rollout

A mother who lost her toddler to chickenpoxhas welcomed a major milestone as the vaccine is set to be introduced on the NHS - but says it should have happened sooner.

Angie Bunce-Mason, 50, from Barnstaple, Devon, was preparing to celebrate her daughter, Elana's fourth birthday, before she fell ill with chickenpox. Elana had developed chickenpox over Easterweekend in 2009. Sadly, she quickly deteriorated after she experienced internal complications.

Five days later, she was admitted to hospital where she endured a cardiac arrest and tragically died. According to her post-mortem, she had developed internal chickenpox lesions on her lungs. Angie and her husband Adam became long-time campaigners for the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine on the NHS, a move already taken by countries like the US, Canada and Australia as far back as the mid-1990s.

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The couple took part in numerous media interviews, walked 100km from Stratford to Cambridge to raise awareness, and lobbied whenever possible to push for change. Sixteen years on, their efforts have paid off. From January next year, all children in the UK will be offered the chickenpox jab as part of the routine vaccination programme.

It will be administered in two doses – at 12 and 18 months – alongside the existing MMR vaccine. A catch-up scheme will also be rolled out for slightly older children. “We were thrilled when we heard the news,” Angie said. “Just annoyed it has taken so long – how many other children and families have suffered in the last 16 years?”

Chickenpox is often regarded as a mild childhood illness, but in rare cases it can lead to serious complications, including encephalitis, pneumonia, and even death. Vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborns, and adults are at greater risk.

Angie believes this new policy marks a turning point in how the illness is perceived. She said: “When parents say to me that they are not worried about chickenpox as it’s only a mild illness, I simply say – let’s hope for your sake it is for your child. You can’t turn back the clock and give the vaccine when it’s too late.”

Elana’s older brother Reuben, now in his twenties, was just six at the time of her death. Angie says he blamed himself for passing on the virus and continues to carry that burden. The loss continues to cast a long shadow over the family.

“Birthdays, anniversaries, Easter and Christmas are difficult times,” she said. “The first New Year’s Eve was horrid – while others celebrated a new year, I was thinking about leaving Elana in 2009.”

Despite the heartbreak, Angie says they have found comfort in keeping Elana’s memory alive. “We talk about Elana every day – she is the butterfly that we always see," reports Devon Live.

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said the new NHS rollout will “give parents the power to protect their children” and reduce both illness and economic strain. The Department of Health estimates chickenpox costs the UK around £24 million a year in lost income and productivity.

While uptake of other childhood vaccines remains below target, officials hope this new addition will see strong support. Experts say the jab could dramatically reduce the number of severe chickenpox cases and prevent future tragedies.

For Angie, the move is bittersweet but ultimately affirms the family's tireless campaigning. “We had to turn a terrible negative into a positive,” she said. “Now, many more children will be protected – and their families won’t have to experience the pain of watching their child being resuscitated.”