Vaccinations
Protect Your Health with Our Vaccination Services
At our pharmacy, we are committed to helping you stay healthy and protected against common infectious diseases. We offer a range of vaccines, including those for Chickenpox, Shingles, Whooping Cough, Pneumonia, and MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella). Learn more about each vaccine and how it can benefit you and your family.
Vaccinations
What is Chickenpox? Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It leads to an itchy rash, fever, and tiredness. While typically mild in children, chickenpox can cause serious complications in adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Why Get Vaccinated?
- Prevent Infection: The chickenpox vaccine can prevent the disease in most people.
- Reduce Severity: For those who do get chickenpox after vaccination, the symptoms are usually milder with fewer skin lesions and lower fever.
- Protect Community: By getting vaccinated, you help protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as newborns or those with certain medical conditions.
Who Should Get the Chickenpox Vaccine?
- Children should receive two doses, the first at 12-15 months and the second at 4-6 years.
- Teenagers and adults who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine should get two doses, four to eight weeks apart.
Vaccinations
What is Shingles? Shingles is a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the body. It often affects older adults and can lead to severe pain and complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is long-term nerve pain.
Why Get Vaccinated?
- Reduce Risk: The shingles vaccine significantly lowers the risk of developing shingles.
- Prevent Complications: It also reduces the likelihood of complications like PHN.
- Protect Quality of Life: By preventing shingles and its complications, the vaccine helps maintain a higher quality of life in older adults.
Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine?
- Adults aged 50 and older should get the shingles vaccine, even if they have had shingles before or received the chickenpox vaccine.
- The vaccine is given in two doses, two to six months apart.
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Vaccine
What is Whooping Cough? Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It causes severe coughing fits that can last for weeks. It is especially dangerous for infants and young children.
Why Get Vaccinated?
- Protect Infants: The whooping cough vaccine is crucial for protecting infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated.
- Prevent Outbreaks: Vaccination helps prevent the spread of whooping cough in the community.
- Lifelong Protection: Booster shots are needed to maintain protection as immunity from the vaccine wanes over time.
Who Should Get the Whooping Cough Vaccine?
- Children: The DTaP vaccine is given in five doses at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months, with a booster at 4-6 years.
- Teens and Adults: The Tdap booster is recommended at 11-12 years and for adults who have never received it.
- Pregnant Women: Pregnant women should get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, preferably between 27 and 36 weeks, to protect their newborns.
Pneumonia (Pneumococcal) Vaccine
What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is a serious lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Pneumococcal pneumonia, caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, can lead to severe illness, especially in older adults, young children, and those with certain health conditions.
Why Get Vaccinated?
- Prevent Infection: The pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent pneumonia and other serious infections caused by the bacteria.
- Reduce Complications: It can reduce the severity of the illness and prevent complications like bloodstream infections and meningitis.
- Protect Vulnerable Populations: Vaccination protects those who are most at risk of severe illness, including young children, older adults, and individuals with chronic health conditions.
Who Should Get the Pneumonia Vaccine?
- Children: The PCV13 vaccine is given to children at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age.
- Adults 65 and Older: Adults aged 65 and older should receive the pneumococcal vaccines, PCV13 and PPSV23, as recommended by their healthcare provider.
- People with Certain Health Conditions: Those with chronic illnesses, weakened immune systems, or smokers should get vaccinated as per their healthcare provider’s advice.
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Vaccine
What are Measles, Mumps, and Rubella?
- Measles: A highly contagious virus that causes fever, cough, and a characteristic rash. Complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
- Mumps: A contagious virus that causes swelling of the salivary glands, fever, headache, and muscle aches. Complications can include meningitis, encephalitis, and hearing loss.
- Rubella: Also known as German measles, it causes mild fever and rash but can lead to serious birth defects if a woman is infected during pregnancy.
Why Get Vaccinated?
- Prevent Infection: The MMR vaccine is highly effective in preventing these three serious diseases.
- Protect Community: Vaccination helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as newborns and individuals with certain medical conditions.
- Reduce Complications: By preventing the diseases, the vaccine also prevents the serious complications associated with them.
Vaccinations
Who Should Get the MMR Vaccine?
- Children: The first dose is given at 12-15 months, with a second dose at 4-6 years.
- Adults: Adults who have not been vaccinated or have no evidence of immunity should receive at least one dose.
- Women of Childbearing Age: Women who plan to become pregnant should ensure they are vaccinated to prevent rubella infection during pregnancy.
Vaccinations
Protect yourself and your loved ones by staying up-to-date with recommended vaccines. Our friendly and knowledgeable pharmacists are here to provide you with the necessary vaccines in a safe and convenient environment.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about vaccines or our services. We are here to help!
To schedule your vaccination appointment:
- Call us: 01604812736
- Visit us: 26-28 The Square, Earls Barton,
Jeyes of Earls Barton, Northampton,
NN6 0NA
Stay healthy and prevent disease with our vaccination services. Your health is our priority!