Chicken pox is seen by many as a relatively harmless childhood disease, but New Zealand youngsters are increasingly being hospitalised by it.

New research from Starship Hospital has found 144 children were admitted over two years with one in 10 ending up in intensive care, and GPs are now calling for vaccines against the infection.

Doctor John Cameron wants the vaccine, which costs up to $80, added to the immunisation schedule.

"Parents, if you've got three kinds, that's got to be a big ask in their budget to put forward for a vaccine when they don't now what the potential outcome's going to be for that kid. They may or may not get chicken pox, they may or may not get sick."

He said we have underestimated the potential risk of this viral childhood infection, which in extreme cases can cause lung and brain infections.

"Not only will we stop kids getting chicken pox and mum having to take ten days off work to look after the kid - they'll get one after the other so normally it'll be a couple of weeks - we'll stop a significant amount of unwellness and potential risk."