Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a very common illness caused by the varicella zoster virus. Most people catch it during their childhood and it is most commonly spread during the months of March to September. If you haven’t had chickenpox as a child, you can still get it as an adult. Cases in teenagers and adults can be much more serious than in younger children and can often require stays in hospital.
Although it’s not dangerous for most children, chickenpox can be very unpleasant for the child, as it causes an itchy rash and a fever. In most cases, the symptoms clear within a week.
The virus can be dangerous for patients with an impaired immune system, new-born babies and pregnant women. Once you have had chickenpox, you’re usually immune for life but you could develop shingles at a later point in life.
Chickenpox Vaccine
How Many Doses Are Required? Two. These are given at least 4 weeks apart.
When Should My Child Get the Vaccine? At Monkbar Pharmacy, we administer the chickenpox vaccine from 12 months old. The vaccine is a live vaccine and so should be given at least 4 weeks apart from other live vaccines, including the MMR vaccine which is usually administered as part of the UK Routine Vaccination Schedule at 12-13 months old.
How Effective is the Vaccination? The vaccine is extremely effective. Two doses give around 98% protection to children and around 75% protection to teenagers and adults. Those few who do catch chickenpox after being vaccinated generally have a much more mild case.
How Long Does Protection Last? Current evidence suggests that the protection offered by the vaccine is likely to be life long. No booster doses are currently recommended
How Is The Vaccine Administered? It is injected into a muscle, usually at the top of an arm (the deltoid muscle) but, for some smaller babies, we may advise administration into the thigh muscle.
Can Adults Receive the Vaccination? Yes, up the age of 65yrs, although it is only recommended for people who have NOT had a chickenpox infection as a child. You should talk to your GP about whether testing for previous infection may be advisable before booking a vaccine appointment.
Is The Chickenpox Vaccine Available on the NHS? Not for most people. There are a few exceptions but most children and adults are NOT able to receive the vaccine on the NHS. It is NOT currently part of the UK Routine Vaccination Schedule although the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have recommended that it should be included in the future. Timescales for this are unknown.
This vaccine is normally available at £70 per dose.
More information about the chickenpox vaccine can be found here
Terms and Conditions
We understand schedules can change and unforeseen circumstances can arise. To ensure we can accommodate all of our clients, we kindly request adherence to our cancellation policy.
- Cancellation Notice
Clients must notify us of cancellations or appointment changes at least 24 hours in advance.
To cancel or reschedule, please login to your client portal or email clinic@monkbarpharmacy.co.uk.
- Late Cancellations
Cancellations made within 24 hours of the appointment time will incur the booking fee of your appointment.
This fee compensates our team for the time that was set aside specifically for you.
- No-shows
Failing to show up for your scheduled appointment without prior notification will result in a 100% charge of the scheduled service cost.
Repeat no-shows may result in having to prepay in full for future services or lead to an inability to book future appointments.
- Late Arrivals
We understand delays can happen, however, if our clinicians feel that there is no longer time to safely provide the service to you in the remaining time, you may be asked to reschedule. Our clinician’s decision on this is final. We may decide to treat tardiness as a late cancellation and apply the applicable fee. This ensures we can provide the best and safest service to you and our other clients.
- Exceptions
We recognise emergencies and special circumstances can occur. Exceptions to our policy are made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Monkbar Pharmacy management.
- Refunds
Cancellation fees and deposits are non-refundable unless your appointment has been re-scheduled with more than 24 hours notice. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to contact@monkbarpharmacy.co.uk. All requests will be considered within 4 weeks of receipt.
Contacting Us
For any questions about this policy or to make any changes to your appointment, please reach out to us at contact@monkbarpharmacy.co.uk.
By booking an appointment, you acknowledge and agree to our cancellation policy. This policy allows us to manage our schedule and provide the best service to all clients.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Thank you for choosing Monkbar Pharmacy
Our Services
Listed below are some of the many services offered by Monkbar Pharmacy.
Click the links for more information.
