Understanding COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease spread through droplets, aerosols, and direct contact. Symptoms include:

• • High temperature or shivering
  • New, continuous cough
  • Sore throat
  • Loss of or change in smell or taste

Most people recover from their first symptoms within a few days or weeks, making a full recovery within 12 weeks. However, some people can become more seriously ill, and their symptoms can last longer.

About the Service

During the pandemic, the national vaccination program provided everyone with access to a COVID-19 vaccine. However, this is no longer the case. Currently, the NHS offers the vaccine to:

• • Adults aged 65 years and over
  • Individuals aged 18 years and over who are in a clinical at risk group, including pregnant women
  • Frontline Health & Social Care Workers
  • Care home residents
  • Staff in care homes for older adults.

You can check your eligibility for the NHS service here. If you are eligible, you may receive a COVID-19 vaccination free through the NHS.

If you are ineligible for a COVID-19 vaccination (whether first or booster doses) through the NHS, we can provide you with a private vaccination if you meet our inclusion criteria.

About the Vaccination

Our COVID-19 Vaccination Service offers protection against COVID-19 using a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty Omicron product. The COVID-19 vaccination reduces the chance of suffering from COVID-19. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, and it takes a few weeks for your body to build up protection. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, but this should lessen the severity of any infection.

How much does it cost?

The cost for private COVID-19 vaccination is £85.

Who is This Service Suitable For?

Our private COVID-19 Vaccination Service is suitable for people who:

• Are aged 12 years and over
• Have not had any COVID-19 vaccinations in the last 3 months
• Have not had an allergic reaction to any injections or vaccinations in the past

This isn’t a complete list; the clinician will check suitability before administering the vaccination.

How Long Does Immunity Last?

The duration of COVID-19 immunity depends on several factors, including vaccination status, prior infection, virus variants, and individual immune responses. Studies have shown that immunity from vaccination or natural infection can wane over time, but booster shots can help enhance and extend protection. Generally, getting a booster every 6 to 12 months is advised to maintain optimal protection, especially for high-risk groups.

Where is this service available?

Our Private COVID-19 vaccination service is available only at our McPhersons Pharmacy in Broughty Ferry, but we hope to extend it to other pharmacies soon.

Get Vaccinated

Stay protected with our COVID-19 Vaccination Service. Complete our vaccination request form today.

Understanding Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a common viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is highly contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing, and direct contact. While chickenpox can affect people of all ages, it is most commonly contracted during childhood. Certain groups, such as pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems, are at a higher risk of complications if they catch chickenpox. Once you have had chickenpox, you are usually immune for life, but there is a possibility of developing shingles later in life.

About the Service

Our Chickenpox Vaccination Service is a private service for adults and children aged between one and 65 years, offering effective protection against chickenpox for patients who have not previously had chickenpox. This service is not suitable for pregnant women or women who are trying to conceive

About the Vaccination

A full course consists of two vaccinations given 4 to 8 weeks apart. Once you have completed the two-dose course, you will not need further boosters. It does not protect against similar viruses, such as the herpes virus, nor does it protect against shingles. To prevent shingles, you can receive a shingles vaccination with us if you are over 50 years old.

How much does it cost?

The cost for each dose of the vaccine is £70. Since two doses are required to complete the course, the total service cost amounts to £140.

Get Vaccinated

Protect yourself and your loved ones by booking a chickenpox vaccination. Complete our vaccination request form today.

Understanding Shingles

Shingles is an infection that causes a painful rash, triggered by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. If you’ve had chickenpox in the past, the virus remains dormant in your body and can be reactivated, typically during periods of stress or when your immune system is weakened.
Besides a painful rash, shingles can cause fever.
The rash can take up to four weeks to heal and may lead to long-term pain known as Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), which can last for months or even years.
While shingles itself is not contagious, it can cause chickenpox in individuals who have never had it. This happens because shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus.
Unlike chickenpox, shingles can recur, leading to repeated bouts of the condition.

About the Service

While patients aged 65 years and older qualify for a free shingles vaccine on the NHS, those aged 50-64 are not eligible, creating a demand for our private vaccination service.
The shingles vaccine helps to build up your immunity to the virus, significantly reducing your risk of developing shingles. If you do get shingles, your symptoms are likely to be milder. Additionally, the vaccine lowers your risk of experiencing long-term pain from shingles, known as Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), and reduces the likelihood of being hospitalised due to complications.

About the Vaccination

We use the Shingrix vaccine, which is known for its strong and long-lasting immune response, offering over 90% protection against shingles in adults aged 50 and above and about 91% effectiveness in those over 70. This is the same vaccine used by the NHS for those over 65. Shingrix requires two doses, administered 2 to 6 months apart, with an ideal interval of 2 months. An annual booster is not required.

How much does it cost?

The cost for each dose of the Shingrix vaccine is £200, and since two doses are required to complete the course, the total service cost amounts to £400.

Get Vaccinated

By choosing our private vaccination service, you can protect yourself against shingles even if you do not qualify for the NHS vaccine. Complete our vaccination request form today.

Understanding Flu

Flu (influenza) is a common infectious respiratory illness. You can catch flu all year round, but it’s especially common in winter.  It is spread by germs in coughs and sneezes which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours. The flu can cause serious complications in children, the elderly, those with a weakened immune system and pregnant women.

About the Service

Our private flu vaccination service is suitable for anyone over the age of 18 who is not eligible for a free influenza vaccine from their local healthboard.

The NHS offer free flu vaccination to adults who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill from flu. Community Pharmacies in some healthboards have been asked to support the administration of these vaccinations.

About the Vaccination

The flu vaccine is the safest and most effective way to reduce your risk of getting flu, it will also help reduce the risk of spreading flu to others.

Although the flu jab does not prevent 100% of all flu cases, people who have been vaccinated and who catch a strain of the flu they are vaccinated against tend to have less severe symptoms which usually improve within a shorter period of time.

You need to get vaccinated every year in order to stay protected – the flu virus is constantly changing, and the vaccine is formulated every year to remain effective against the most common strands of the flu.

It can take up to 14 days for your immunity to develop after getting the flu jab. This is why it’s always best to get vaccinated early in the season to minimise your chance of catching it before you develop immunity.

Where is this service available?

Our private flu vaccination service is available from selected branches. Please view the form or current list with changes in stock availability.

The NHS Flu vaccination service is available from:

• Ayrshire & Arran – Crosshouse
• Fife – Elie and Thornton.
• Forth Valley – Drymen, Killin and Strathblane.

How much does it cost?

The cost for private flu vaccination is £20.

NHS flu vaccination is free in line with Scottish Government recommendations.

The full list of eligibility criteria can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/flu

Get Vaccinated

By choosing our vaccination service, you can protect yourself against flu. Complete our vaccination request form today.