Vaccinations are a safe and effective way to protect people from serious diseases. They work by training the immune system to recognise and fight specific infections, reducing the risk of illness and helping to stop the spread within communities.
Vaccines are offered at various stages of life, from childhood through to older age, and are especially important for vulnerable groups.
Keeping up to date with recommended vaccines helps keep everyone healthier in the long run.
£80
(this includes the phlebotomy fee of £40)
For most employees who work in a health or social care sector, this vaccination is essential. We can offer the immunity blood test to check the amount of Hepatitis B antibodies.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that is most commonly contracted during childhood. The virus, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, spreads easily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through direct contact with the blisters or skin lesions of someone who is infected. As a result, chickenpox can spread quickly in places like schools, nurseries, and households.
While chickenpox is generally mild in children, it can become more severe as people get older. Symptoms of the infection typically include an itchy rash that progresses into fluid-filled blisters, fever, and general discomfort. In children, the illness usually resolves within a week or two, but in adults and older individuals, chickenpox can cause more serious complications, such as bacterial infections of the skin, pneumonia, or even long-term nerve pain (known as post-herpetic neuralgia) in some cases.
To help protect against chickenpox, a safe and effective vaccine is available. The chickenpox vaccine is recommended for all children, starting from 1 year old onwards, and can significantly reduce the risk of getting the infection or developing severe complications. The vaccine is also offered to individuals who have not had chickenpox and are at risk, including older children, adolescents, and adults who have not been vaccinated or previously infected.
In the UK, the chickenpox vaccine is not currently part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Two doses are required, one month apart.
The NHS offers the HPV vaccine free of charge to all young people aged 12 to 18 as part of its routine vaccination program. This is to help protect against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is linked to various cancers, including cervical, throat, and anal cancers. For individuals who are sexually active but missed the vaccine during the recommended age range, there is still a benefit to receiving the vaccine. Even if they have already been exposed to some HPV strains, they may not yet have encountered all of them, and the vaccine can still provide protection against the remaining strains that could pose a risk in the future. It’s important to note that the vaccine is most effective when administered before any exposure to HPV, but it can still offer significant protection for those who may have already been sexually active. If you’re unsure about whether the vaccine is right for you, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional who can offer guidance based on your personal circumstances.
Meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection caused by bacteria known as Neisseria meningitidis. These bacteria are classified into 13 different groups, with five of them—groups A, B, C, W, and Y—accounting for nearly all cases of severe meningococcal infections. Meningococcal infections can lead to life-threatening conditions such as meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord) and sepsis (a bloodstream infection).
The disease can affect anyone, but certain age groups are at higher risk. Meningococcal infections are most commonly seen in infants, children, and adolescents, with the highest incidence occurring in children under the age of 5 and in teenagers and young adults, particularly those between the ages of 16 and 23. These age groups are more susceptible due to factors such as the close contact found in environments like schools, universities, and military barracks, which can facilitate the spread of the bacteria.
In the UK, the NHS offers vaccinations to help protect against meningococcal disease. The vaccine provides protection against the most common and dangerous strains of the bacteria, including group B and group C, as well as the W and Y strains, which have seen an increase in cases in recent years. The vaccination schedule typically includes doses for children at 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and a booster at age 14, as well as a catch-up vaccination for teenagers and young adults (up to age 25) who may have missed previous doses.
If you’re unsure whether you or your child has received the meningococcal vaccine or if they are within the recommended age group, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional. Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent this potentially fatal infection and protect public health.
One dose is sufficient to provide protection.
The MenB vaccine is given to infants as part of their routine immunisations:
This vaccination helps protect against the Neisseria meningitidis group B strain, which is responsible for a significant number of meningitis cases, particularly in infants and young children.
The MenB vaccine was introduced as part of the routine NHS immunisation schedule for infants in the UK in September 2015. It was initially offered to babies born on or after July 1, 2015.
In addition to infants, the MenB vaccine can also be given to older children, teenagers, or those at higher risk of meningitis B infection, but it is not routinely provided to older age groups. If you’re unsure whether you or your child has received the MenB vaccine, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider for guidance.
The vaccine has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of meningitis B in those who receive it, offering protection against this potentially fatal infection.
The catch-up schedule for those who missed their infant doses would typically consist of two doses of the MenB vaccine, given a few months apart.
Shingles occurs when the chickenpox virus, which remains dormant in the body, reactivates after many years. This risk tends to rise with age. To help prevent shingles and the persistent nerve pain that can follow, a vaccine is recommended. The most recent vaccine, Shingrix, offers enhanced protection compared to the older vaccine, providing stronger immunity against the virus.
