We run a vaccination service where you can access inoculations to common, and hopefully not-so-common diseases:

Who should have the chickenpox vaccine?

The chickenpox vaccine protects against the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that causes chickenpox and shingles. Most people who experience chickenpox as a child will have immunity to the disease.

However, if you did not have chickenpox as a child, you may wish to have the chickenpox vaccine. Catching chickenpox as an adult is more serious than catching it as a child. Adults who catch chickenpox will typically experience similar but more severe symptoms. Adults may also develop complications such as Sepsis, dehydration, encephalitis, pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome.

Your risk of catching chickenpox as an adult is higher if you come into contact with children under 12 – such as working in a school. So, the chickenpox vaccine is may be a good idea if you’re a teacher or nursery worker, for example, who didn’t have chickenpox as a child.

You can speak to your doctor or pharmacist about whether the chickenpox vaccine is for you.

Who is the shingles vaccine for?

The NHS provides the shingles vaccine for people aged 70 years old, and often recommend having it at the same time as the flu vaccine in the year of their 70th birthday. If you missed out on the shingles vaccine when you were 70, you are still eligible up until your 80th birthday.

Anyone over 50 can have the shingles vaccine privately, such as through our vaccination service. The vaccine is less effective for people over the age of 80 years, however.

Also, please note that the shingles vaccine is not suitable for everyone. You shouldn’t have the shingles vaccine if you:

•  – Have a weakened immune system such as from cancer treatment.
•  – Have had an organ transplant.
•  – Previously had an allergic reaction to the chickenpox vaccine.
•  – Have tuberculosis (TB).

Please consult your doctor or the vaccination pharmacist to discuss whether the shingles vaccination is for you.

Should I have the hepatitis B vaccine?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that often doesn’t present any symptoms in adults. Most cases of hepatitis B will go unnoticed with your body fighting off the infection. However, hepatitis B can be serious with infections lasting many months and causing permanent liver damage, including cancer, without successful treatment.

All children are offered/given the hepatitis B vaccine as babies as the infection is more serious when you’re young. As adults, you may also have the vaccine if you in a high-risk group, such as:

•  – people with chronic liver disease or chronic kidney disease
•  – travellers to countries with a high rate of hepatitis B infections
•  – healthcare workers who handle blood and body fluids as part of their job
•  – sex workers
•  – patients who require regular blood transfusions as part of their treatment

If your job puts you at risk of a hepatitis B infection, it may be your employer’s responsibility to arrange vaccination for you.

Using our vaccination service

The price of the service will depend on the vaccine you are receiving but this information will be given to you before booking the vaccination. You can drop in to speak to a member of staff about whether you need a particular vaccine or you can contact us online today.