Shingles Vaccine from Lombard Pharmacy, Dublin 2

What is Shingles?

The Varicella zoster virus causes shingles. Notably, this is the exact same virus that causes chickenpox. Once you contract the virus, it remains dormant inside your body forever. However, it can become active again in later life and develop into shingles.

Age Risks and Immune System Factors

The risk of developing shingles sits between 24% and 30%. While it can occur at any age, the risk increases significantly once you reach 50 years and older. Your risk also grows when your immune system weakens. This weakness can occur due to increasing age or specific medical treatments. For example, cancer therapies, rheumatoid arthritis treatments, or advanced HIV can lower your defenses.

Understanding Shingles Pain and Complications

Shingles can cause severe, intense pain. Furthermore, the older you are, the worse the symptoms typically feel. Although most people fully recover from the virus, some individuals face long-term complications.

Specifically, the virus can leave patients with chronic nerve pain. This pain can continue for months or even years after the blisters and rash completely heal. Doctors call this condition post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). As you grow older, your chances of developing PHN as a result of shingles rise significantly.

Why Get a Shingles Vaccination?

Reducing Your Risk and Symptom Severity- The vaccine successfully reduces your risk of developing shingles. Additionally, it lessens the severity and duration of your symptoms if you do get sick. Most importantly, the shot slashes your chances of developing chronic PHN nerve pain.

NIAC Guidelines and Vaccine Efficacy Statistics

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) currently recommends a recombinant type vaccine in Ireland. Patients receive this vaccine in two separate doses.

Studies evaluated people with healthy immune systems four months after receiving both doses. The figures below show the vaccine’s exact efficacy at preventing shingles:

**Aged 50 to 69 years:** 97% effective
**Aged 70 to 79 years:** 90% effective
**Aged 80 years and older:** 89% effective

If you still contract shingles after your shots, the vaccine continues to help. It lowers symptom severity and protects you against long-lasting post-herpetic neuralgia.

What is the Cost of the Shingles Vaccination Service?

The total cost of the two-dose Shingrix Shingles Vaccination Service is €480. This breaks down to €240 per individual injection. Typically, you will receive the second dose two months after your first clinic visit.

What are the Symptoms of Shingles?

Generally, shingles symptoms range from mild to severe. The condition usually starts with localized pain and tingling. After that, a distinct rash develops. This rash forms blisters that can itch, cause pain, and last for about two to four weeks.

The rash usually only affects one side of the upper body. However, it can also develop on your head, your neck, or directly around your eyes.

Who is at Risk?

Anyone who has previously had chickenpox carries a risk of developing shingles. This happens because the virus hides in certain nerves of the body. Over time, it can reactivate. You may face a much greater risk if you:

* Manage a weakened immune system.
* Are aged over 50.

Who is the Shingles Vaccine Suitable For?

General Eligibility and Age Limits- Our pharmacists can administer the recombinant shingles vaccine to anyone aged 50 or older. Additionally, we can give it to adults aged 18 to 49 who face an increased risk due to a weakened immune system.

Vaccination Timing and Prior Infections

We proudly provide this vaccination service year-round. If you have suffered from shingles in the past, you can still safely receive the vaccine. However, official guidance recommends waiting one full year after your symptoms resolve. This waiting period allows the vaccine to work much more effectively. Furthermore, this recombinant vaccine is perfectly suitable for anyone who previously received the older, live-attenuated version.

Who Should NOT Get the Shingles Vaccine?

**Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:** Medical experts do not recommend the shingles vaccine during pregnancy. Please speak directly to your doctor if you are breastfeeding but still wish to get the shot.
**Allergies:** You should avoid the shingles vaccine if you have a history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.
**Coagulation Issues:** If you suffer from thrombocytopenia or any blood coagulation disorder, please talk to our pharmacist first. You might not be eligible to receive injections inside a retail pharmacy environment.

If you harbor any doubts at all, please speak to our team. Our pharmacist can easily review your medical history and advise whether the shot fits your needs.

Side-Effects

Occasionally, patients experience minor side-effects after their shingles vaccination. Most of these issues are not serious and disappear entirely within a few days.

**Very Common:** Headaches, stomach complaints (including nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea), muscle pain (myalgia), tiredness, chills, fever, or redness and swelling at the injection site.
**Common:** Itching near the injection site (pruritus) or generally feeling unwell.
**Uncommon:** Swollen glands in the neck, armpits, or groin, alongside temporary joint pain.

Additional On-Site Safety Information

We require all patients to remain in store for 15 minutes after their injection. This precaution ensures our clinical team can monitor you for any immediate reactions.

On rare occasions, a severe allergic reaction can occur. Signs include hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing, a rapid heartbeat, or dizziness. If this happens, our trained staff immediately executes established emergency procedures to protect your health.

To book a Shingles Vaccine appointment at Lombard Pharmacy, Dublin 2, please click here:

Pneumococcal Vaccine from Lombard Pharmacy, Dublin 2 

What is Pneumococcal Disease?

Pneumococcal disease is the term used to describe a range of illnesses caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bug such as pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis (inflammation around the brain). Many people carry the bacteria in their nose and throat without causing any harm but sometimes the bacteria can invade the lungs and bloodstream. The bacteria are spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing or close contact. Pneumococcal vaccination is not recommended for healthy adults (aged under 65 years) as they are at low risk of pneumococcal disease.

Who should get the Pneumococcal Vaccine?

There are two different pneumococcal vaccines available and the HSE outlines the persons for whom vaccination is recommended on their website. Lombard Pharmacy offers the Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV23) to ages 18 and above. In adults, the vaccine is recommended for everybody aged 65 and above. If anybody aged 65 and above has any conditions associated with increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (NIAC Group A & B risk factors), they will NOT be vaccinated in a community pharmacy. Check with your pharmacist for more details. Individuals aged between 18-65 years with any of the risk factors are also recommended to get the vaccine. The risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Chronic lung, heart or liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease
• Down Syndrome
• Coeliac disease
• Chronic renal disease
• Cochlear implants
• Immunosuppressed
• HIV infection
• Impaired spleen function
• CSF leaks
• Intracranial shunt
• Smoking or alcohol dependence
• Solid organ transplant

*Some patients require vaccination with the Pneuomoccal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) before receiving PPV23. Note that PCV vaccination is not available as part of this service.

Who should NOT get the Pneumococcal Vaccine?

You shouldn’t have the vaccine if you have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose or to any part of the vaccine.

I think I’ve had the vaccine before, do I need another one?

Most people will only need this vaccine once. However, re-vaccination is recommended for some people and this will depend on your age and if you have any risk factors. Ask your pharmacist to check if you are recommended to get the pneumococcal vaccine. To ensure the vaccine is suitable for you at this time we will need to confirm your pneumococcal vaccine history with your doctor.

How can I access the vaccination service?

To avail of the vaccination service, please pick your slot and complete the intake form provided and a member of the pharmacy team will check your eligibility and arrange for payment if required before the time of your appointment.

Customer advice

• This vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal disease including those most likely to cause severe disease and most people only need to receive the vaccine once
• Most adults will be protected by the vaccine after 3 weeks
• If you are aged under 65 years a booster vaccination (usually given 5 years after the first) may be recommended if you have a condition where your antibody levels are likely to decline rapidly e.g. no spleen, or a condition that weakens your immune system
• You cannot get pneumococcal disease from the vaccine, as it does not contain live bacteria
• The pneumococcal vaccine reduces the risk of getting severe forms of pneumococcal disease such as pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia

Side-effect

• People can develop side-effects after a pneumococcal vaccination, although not everybody gets them
• Very common side-effects include: soreness, pain, redness, warmth, swelling and hardening where the injection is given
• Other side effects include: swelling, decreased mobility of the injected arm, feeling tired, generally unwell, uncontrollable shivering, feeling sick or being sick, enlarged and/or inflamed glands, pain, inflammation and swelling of the joints and muscle pains, headache and severe allergic reactions
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. If this happens, we have procedures in place to deal with this condition
• It’s important that you stay in store for 10-15 minutes after your vaccination, just in case you have any immediate side-effects

If you’re concerned about any aspects of your vaccination or about any side-effects, you should talk to one of our pharmacists.

To book a Pneumococcal Vaccine appointment at Lombard Pharmacy, Dublin 2, please click here:

COVID-19 Vaccine from Lombard Pharmacy, Dublin 2

Primary Dose COVID Vaccine

Your first COVID vaccine could be either 1 or 2 doses depending on your age and your risk from COVID-19. The second dose is recommended for people with a weak immune system, 4 weeks after the first dose or a COVID-19 infection. In the case of immunocompromised individuals or people with a very high risk of COVID-19, an additional dose is recommended 8 weeks after the second dose – only if advised by a specialist.

Seasonal COVID Booster doses

The protection from previous doses or a COVID-19 infection may weaken over time. Booster doses help boost your antibodies and provide protection from becoming seriously ill or needing to go to the hospital if you get COVID-19.

The recommended groups for the COVID-19 boosters is subject to change:

• All aged 60 years and older
• All aged 18 years and older living in a long term care facility for older adults
• All aged 18 years and older with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination
• All aged 18 years and older with a medical condition associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation, severe disease or death due to COVID-19:
  o Cancer, Chronic heart disease, Chronic kidney disease, Chronic liver disease, Chronic neurological disease, Chronic respiratory disease, Diabetes and other metabolic disorders including inherited metabolic disorders, Haemoglobinopathies, Body mass index ≥ 40kg/m2, Serious mental health
  conditions, Children and adults with Down syndrome, Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders

Individuals who are in the groups listed above including healthcare workers and pregnant women are recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine in autumn/winter. Anyone aged over 18 years who is not in any of the groups listed above, can get a COVID-19 vaccine in autumn/winter if they choose to, following discussion with a healthcare provider.

Individuals who are immunocompromised or aged 80 and above recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine in spring.

There should be at least a 3 month interval between the last COVID-19 vaccine or the last COVID-19 infection before getting vaccinated.

In pregnancy

You can get a COVID-19 booster once during pregnancy. The best time to get your booster dose is between 20 and 34 weeks. But you can get it at any stage of pregnancy. Wait 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection before getting a booster. If it is over 12 months since you had a COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection, you may be offered a booster dose earlier in your pregnancy. If you have a weak immune system, you can get a second booster 6 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine or infection. Many countries have given multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines. There have not been any unexpected safety concerns so far. The safety of the vaccines continues to be monitored by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The most regularly reported side effects are headache, fever, and tiredness.

To book a COVID-19 Vaccine appointment at Lombard Pharmacy, Dublin 2, please click here: