Chickenpox vaccine, Essex pharmacy | Reliance Pharmacy group

Chickenpox Vaccine

Chickenpox vaccine at Reliance Pharmacy: for children and adults who have never had it

Who needs it

Chickenpox is usually mild in young children but can be serious in teenagers, adults and pregnant women, and it is miserable for everyone. The NHS now offers the vaccine to young children as part of the routine childhood schedule. Older children and adults who have never had chickenpox, healthcare and childcare workers, and families with a vulnerable member can have it privately at the pharmacy.

What is involved

Two doses of the varicella vaccine, four to eight weeks apart, given in the upper arm. The pharmacist checks your history first; it is not given in pregnancy or to people with a weakened immune system, and women should avoid pregnancy for a month after each dose.

Side effects

A sore arm is common. A few people get a mild rash or low fever a week or two later. Serious reactions are very rare.

Not sure whether you have had chickenpox?

Most adults who grew up in the UK have, even if they do not remember it. If you are unsure, a blood test through your GP can check your immunity before you decide.

Book today

Book online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Book Appointment

Other Services

Contraceptive Pill Repeat Supply

Get your contraceptive pill from Reliance Pharmacy on the NHS, without a GP appointmentSkip the GP queueUnder the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service our pharmacists can supply your usual combined or progestogen only pill, and can also start you on the pill for the first time, without a GP or clinic appointment. The consultation and the pill are free.Who can use itAnyone who uses or wants to use an oral contraceptive pill. The pharmacist checks your blood pressure and weight, asks about your health and any medicines, and makes sure the pill you want is safe for you. Some conditions mean a different method is better, and we will say so.What you getUp to a year’s supply, usually issued in three month lots, with your GP practice informed so your record stays complete. We can also talk through other options, including long acting methods available through your GP or sexual health clinic.Running out?Come in before you finish your current pack. If you have already run out, ask us about emergency contraception as well.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Weight Loss & Management

Medicated weight loss at Reliance Pharmacy: support that goes beyond the injectionMore than a prescriptionWeight loss medicines work, but they work best with someone alongside you. Our programme starts with a proper consultation, checks you are suitable, and follows up every month so the dose is right, side effects are managed and the weight that comes off stays off.Who it is forAdults with a body mass index of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea. The pharmacist will measure you, take a medical history and check current medicines before anything is supplied. Some people are not suitable, and we will tell you honestly if that is the case.The optionsMounjaro and Wegovy are once weekly injections that reduce appetite and slow digestion, so you feel full sooner and for longer. Orlistat is a capsule taken with meals that reduces the fat your body absorbs and suits people who prefer not to inject. Prices include the consultation and one month’s supply; current prices are on our website.What to expectNausea and changes in bowel habit are common in the first weeks and usually settle. Eating smaller meals, avoiding fatty food and drinking plenty of water help. Your reviews are where we adjust the dose and keep you on track.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Pharmacy First - Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection? Get NHS treatment at Reliance Pharmacy without a GP appointmentWhat Pharmacy First means for youPharmacy First is an NHS service that lets our pharmacists assess and treat seven common conditions, including uncomplicated urinary tract infections. You do not need to see a GP first and there is no charge for the consultation. If you need antibiotics and you normally pay for prescriptions, the usual prescription charge applies; if you are exempt, the medicine is free.Who can use itThe UTI pathway is for women aged 16 to 64 who are not pregnant, do not have a catheter and have not had a UTI in the last few weeks that was treated. Men, children, pregnant women and anyone with symptoms of a kidney infection, such as a high temperature, back pain or feeling very unwell, need to see a GP or call 111, and our pharmacist will direct you straight away if that applies.What happens in the pharmacyYou will be seen in our private consultation room. The pharmacist asks about your symptoms: pain or burning when you pass urine, needing to go more often or more urgently, and pain low in your tummy. They check for anything that needs a doctor, then either supply a short course of antibiotics under NHS rules, recommend pain relief and self care if the infection is likely to clear on its own, or refer you on. The consultation is recorded and your GP is told, so your medical record stays complete.When to come inThe earlier the better. Most consultations take about ten minutes. If your symptoms have not improved within 48 hours of starting treatment, or you develop a fever or back pain, come back or contact 111.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Pharmacy First - Sore throat

Sore throat: when a pharmacist can treat it under NHS Pharmacy FirstMost sore throats do not need antibioticsNine out of ten sore throats are caused by viruses and get better on their own within a week. A small number are bacterial and benefit from antibiotics. The NHS Pharmacy First service lets our pharmacist tell the difference using a scoring system called FeverPAIN, so you get the right treatment without a GP appointment.Who can use itAnyone aged 5 and over. The pharmacist will refer you elsewhere if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, are drooling, have a muffled voice, a very stiff neck, or are severely unwell. Those signs need urgent care, not a pharmacy.What happens in the pharmacyIn our consultation room the pharmacist looks at your throat with a torch, checks for a temperature, swollen glands and pus on the tonsils, and asks how long you have had it and whether you have a cough. That produces a score. A low score means self care: pain relief, fluids and rest. A high score means antibiotics can be supplied there and then under NHS rules. The consultation is free; the usual prescription charge applies to any antibiotic unless you are exempt.Getting betterParacetamol or ibuprofen, warm drinks and medicated lozenges all help. If you are not improving after three to five days, or you get worse, come back and we will look again.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Cholesterol Testing Service

Free cholesterol check at Reliance Pharmacy: ten minutes that could protect your heartWhy cholesterol mattersHigh cholesterol has no symptoms, yet it is one of the main causes of heart attack and stroke. The only way to know your level is to test it. A quick finger prick test at the pharmacy gives you a result in minutes and tells you whether you need to make changes or see your GP.Who can have itThe check is free for adults aged 40 and over who are registered with a GP in England and have not already been diagnosed with high cholesterol. If you are outside those groups, ask us; a private test is available.What happens in the pharmacyYou will have a short, confidential conversation with the pharmacist about your health and family history, then a finger prick test. The pharmacist explains your result, gives advice on diet, activity and weight where relevant, and refers you to your GP if your level is high. A copy of the result is sent to your GP practice so it is on your record.Small changes, big differenceCutting saturated fat, eating more fibre, moving more and stopping smoking all lower cholesterol. If you smoke, our stop smoking service can help at the same visit.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Pharmacy First - Acute otitis Media

Earache in children: NHS ear infection treatment at Reliance PharmacyA painful, common problemAcute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear. It is very common in young children and usually follows a cold. It causes ear pain, a temperature, irritability and sometimes fluid from the ear. Most cases settle within three days, but some need treatment.Who can use itChildren and young people aged 1 to 17. Babies under 1, and any child who is very unwell, floppy, has a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade, or swelling behind the ear, need urgent medical care and the pharmacist will say so immediately.What happens in the pharmacyThe pharmacist examines the ear with an otoscope, the same instrument a GP uses, and checks the eardrum. Depending on what they see, they will advise on pain relief, supply anaesthetic ear drops for pain, or supply antibiotics under NHS rules where the infection is severe or not settling. Everything is recorded and your GP practice is informed.At homeRegular paracetamol or ibuprofen in the right dose for your child’s age does more for earache than anything else. Keep your child drinking. If the pain has not eased after three days, or your child gets worse, come back or call 111.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Quit Smoking Support

Stop smoking with Reliance Pharmacy: you are up to three times more likely to succeed with supportWhy support worksWillpower alone gives you about a one in twenty chance of quitting for good. Add the right nicotine replacement and weekly support and the odds improve three fold. Our pharmacists and trained advisers have helped many people stop, and they know the difficult weeks come early.What we offerA confidential first conversation to plan your quit, a choice of nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, sprays and inhalators, advice on stop smoking tablets where suitable, and regular check ins with a breath test to show your progress. If you have recently left hospital, you may be referred to us to carry on the support started on the ward.CostSupport is free. Depending on where you live and how you are referred, nicotine replacement may be free on the NHS or available to buy at pharmacy prices. Ask us and we will tell you exactly what applies to you.VapingIf you already vape, or are thinking about it as a way to stop, we can advise. Vaping is far less harmful than smoking, but the aim is to stop nicotine altogether, and we can help with that too.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Ear Wax Removal

Blocked ears? Professional ear wax removal at Reliance PharmacyWhen wax becomes a problemEar wax is normal and protects the ear. It becomes a problem when it builds up and hardens, causing muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, earache, ringing or dizziness. Cotton buds push it deeper. Many GP practices no longer remove wax, which is why more people come to us.Who it is forAdults with blocked ears or hearing loss caused by wax. We check the ear first; if there is an infection, a perforated eardrum, recent ear surgery or the problem is not wax, we will tell you and point you to the right care.What happensAfter a short assessment we look in the ear to confirm wax is the cause, then remove it using approved methods in our private consultation room. Most people hear better immediately. You get advice on softening drops and how to reduce build up in future.Before you comeUsing olive oil drops for three to five days beforehand softens the wax and makes removal quicker and more comfortable. Prices for one or both ears are on our website.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Blood Pressure Checks

Free NHS blood pressure check at Reliance Pharmacy: no appointment, no costThe silent oneHigh blood pressure rarely causes symptoms, but it damages the heart, brain and kidneys over years. Around one in three adults in England has it and many do not know. A check takes less than ten minutes and could be the most useful thing you do this month.Who can have itThe NHS check is free for anyone aged 40 and over who has not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and for anyone under 40 whose GP or pharmacist thinks they should be checked. You do not need an appointment, although booking avoids waiting.What happens in the pharmacyYou sit quietly for a few minutes, then a trained member of the team takes your reading with an automatic cuff. You get the result straight away with clear advice. If it is raised, we can fit a small monitor that records your blood pressure over 24 hours at home, which gives your GP a far better picture than a single reading. The results go to your GP practice.Already on treatment?You are still welcome. A pharmacy check between GP reviews helps you and your doctor see whether your medicine is doing its job.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Meningitis B Vaccine

Meningitis B vaccine at Reliance Pharmacy: protection for teenagers, students and adultsWhy MenBMeningococcal B bacteria cause meningitis and septicaemia, which can kill within hours and leave survivors with amputations, deafness or brain damage. Babies get the vaccine on the NHS, but most teenagers and young adults were born before it was introduced and are unprotected, and they are the second highest risk group.Who should consider itTeenagers and students heading to college or university, where close living spreads the bacteria; adults of any age who want protection; and children who missed the routine doses. It is given privately at the pharmacy because the NHS only funds it for infants.What is involvedThe vaccine is Bexsero. From the age of 2, two doses are needed at least one month apart. The pharmacist checks your history, gives the injection in the upper arm and explains what to expect. A sore arm and mild fever for a day or two are common; paracetamol helps.Combine itStudents often have MenACWY at the same time. Ask us and we will plan both.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Explore Services