When you think about getting vaccinated at your local pharmacy, chances are influenza or COVID-19 are the first things that come to mind.
But pharmacy vaccination services have grown considerably, and you may be surprised by just how many vaccinations your pharmacist can help with.
From shingles and RSV to tetanus, chickenpox and vaccinations for overseas travel, Vitality Pharmacy Warehouse can help make staying up to date with your vaccinations simpler and more convenient.
And if you are not sure what you need? That is exactly the kind of conversation you can have with your pharmacist.
Why keeping your vaccinations up to date matters
Vaccination is not something we only need to think about during childhood.
The vaccinations recommended for us can change throughout our lives depending on our age, health, occupation, travel plans, previous vaccination history and other individual risk factors.
Some protection from earlier vaccinations may also need to be boosted later in life.
That means it is worth occasionally asking a very simple question:
Are my vaccinations up to date?
If you cannot remember the last time you checked, your local Vitality Pharmacy Warehouse is a good place to start.
Shingles: not just a rash
Shingles is caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox.
After someone recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains inactive in the body and can reactivate years or even decades later as shingles.
It typically causes a painful blistering rash, often on one side of the body. For some people, nerve pain can continue well after the rash itself has disappeared.
Anyone who has previously had chickenpox can develop shingles, although the risk and likelihood of complications increase with age. Shingles vaccination is recommended for adults from certain age groups and for some people who are immunocompromised.
Not sure whether shingles vaccination is recommended for you? Ask our pharmacist.
RSV: a common virus that can become serious
You may have heard more about RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, in recent years.
RSV infects the respiratory tract and often causes cold-like symptoms. However, it can cause much more serious illness in some people, particularly older adults, very young children and people with certain medical risk factors.
Current Australian recommendations include RSV vaccination for all adults aged 75 years and over, as well as certain other groups based on age and individual risk.
As recommendations and funding arrangements can change, rather than trying to work it all out yourself, talk to your pharmacist about whether RSV vaccination may be appropriate for you.
Tetanus: when was your last booster?
Tetanus is relatively uncommon in Australia, but that does not mean it has disappeared.
The bacteria that cause tetanus can enter the body through a cut, puncture or other wound and produce a toxin that affects the nervous system, potentially causing severe muscle stiffness and spasms.
This is why you may be asked about your last tetanus vaccination after certain injuries.
Australian recommendations also include tetanus-containing booster vaccination for adults at particular stages of life, as well as in some circumstances following a tetanus-prone wound.
If your answer to “When was your last tetanus vaccination?” is “I have absolutely no idea”, you are certainly not alone.
Ask your Vitality Pharmacy Warehouse pharmacist whether it is time to check your vaccination history.
Chickenpox: adults can get it too
Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
Although we often associate chickenpox with childhood, adolescents and adults who are not immune can also become infected, and illness can be more severe in adults.
Australian vaccination guidance recommends varicella vaccination for people who are not immune, with recommendations depending on age and vaccination history.
If you are unsure whether you have had chickenpox or whether you completed the recommended vaccinations, have a conversation with your pharmacist.
Travelling overseas? Add vaccinations to your checklist
Passport? ✅
Flights? ✅
Accommodation? ✅
Travel vaccinations? ❓
That last one is surprisingly easy to forget.
Different destinations expose travellers to different infectious diseases, which means the vaccinations recommended for one holiday may be completely different from those recommended for another.
Depending on your itinerary, activities, length of stay and personal health circumstances, travel vaccination advice may include protection against diseases such as:
• hepatitis A and hepatitis B
• typhoid
• cholera
• Japanese encephalitis
• meningococcal disease
• rabies
• polio
• yellow fever
• influenza and other routine vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends that international travellers make sure their routine vaccinations are current and consider additional vaccines according to their destination and potential exposures.
Some countries also have specific vaccination requirements. For example, yellow fever vaccination may be recommended or required for travel to particular destinations, and official certification can be required in some circumstances.
Do not leave travel vaccinations until the night before your flight
Some vaccines need time to provide protection. Others may involve more than one dose.
If you have an overseas trip planned, talk to us well before departure so there is time to assess your itinerary and vaccination needs.
Talk to our friendly team at Vitality Pharmacy Warehouse
Whether you are checking your routine vaccinations, considering shingles or RSV vaccination, preparing for an overseas holiday or simply trying to work out what you might have missed, our pharmacists are here to help.
Visit your local Vitality Pharmacy Warehouse and ask our team about the vaccinations available to you.
Not sure what you need? Just ask.
Vaccination recommendations, eligibility, availability and costs vary according to individual circumstances and current government programs. Some vaccinations may not be suitable for everyone. Speak with your pharmacist or healthcare professional for advice appropriate to you.
