Travel Vaccination Clinic

The Coronavirus is a cold virus and despite it being very contagious, Coronavirus or Covid-19 is relatively easy to kill. It survives longer on some surfaces more than others but simple disinfectants or a mild bleach spray can quickly destroy it.  Therefore, the good news is that with some persistent hygiene habits, everyone can take real steps to keep themselves safe and collectively help to contain this disease whilst we wait for a vaccine.

Meningitis is a very serious illness that requires prompt identification and intervention. The difficulty is that early meningitis shares common symptoms with several other illnesses and conditions. However, some telltale indicators can indicate that this is something more than a common cold or flu.

Yellow Fever is a serious disease spread by mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and South and Central America.  If you are travelling to these parts of the world then a vaccine is recommended for yellow fever prevention.

The UK has been free from rabies since the beginning of the 20^th century with the exception of the disease present in a small amount of the wild bat population.  It is, therefore, a relatively rare but nevertheless very serious disease.  If you are thinking of travelling to various parts of the world, there is a distinct risk of rabies in Central and South America, Asia and Africa.

Although chickenpox is a common childhood illness, it is not without risks. Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster and is easily passed between children and adults who have not previously been infected. In severe cases, it can cause brain damage, pneumonia and serious skin infections.

Shingles is a viral infection related to chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant within nerve cells in your body, and can then re-activate years later as shingles. At our Northampton branch of Touchwood Pharmacy, we offer a service to promote shingles prevention in the form of shingles immunisation.

Typhoid is an illness caused by the bacteria, Salmonella Typhi, and can lead to a high temperature or fever with vomiting and diarrhoea.  Infection travels easily from contaminated food and dirty drinking water in countries where there is poor hygiene and sanitation. Typhoid fever is very contagious and easily spread.  It can travel throughout the body and affect all the major organs leading to death in some cases.

Many of us have benefited from the childhood schedule of vaccinations offered by the NHS. We have seen the financial pressures that the NHS is under, and with this been disappointed by the budgeting decisions regarding some vaccinations. Although the NHS may not be able to fund every vaccination for every age group, at Touchwood Pharmacy we are pleased to offer a full range of vaccinations privately, including chickenpox vaccination at Ramsgate.

Meningitis affects many people in the UK every year, and in some cases, it can cause permanent life-changing damage to one’s health and even death. Fortunately, the bacterial meningitis vaccine is available at our Sydenham branch of Touchwood Pharmacy, so that you can protect your health and that of your loved ones.

If you are planning a trip abroad, it can feel impossible to get through all the pre-travel jobs on your ‘to-do’ list. Ensuring your passport is in date, picking up foreign currency and topping up on sunscreen can all take time, but it’s important to make time for travel vaccinations including the typhoid fever vaccine.