Although the Covid pandemic is thankfully over, the Covid-19 virus has not disappeared and having a Covid vaccination is still an important step towards protecting yourself against the virus.
Even if you have had a vaccine, you may need a top-up to protect you from any changes in the virus.
Covid-19 is easily spread through contact with other people. Small droplets are released when a person breathes, coughs, sneezes or speaks. You breathe in these droplets because they are in the air or on surfaces. It is much easier to catch Covid in crowded places, indoors.
A person who is fully vaccinated or has had the virus already can still catch Covid-19. If you have Covid you will be infectious to others for up to 10 days, although usually you will pass on the infection in the first 5 days.
Covid-19 has many similar symptoms to flu. You may have a temperature, feel achy and have a headache and a sore throat. But you might also have other symptoms such as a continuous cough and shortness of breath.
If you have any of the above symptoms and you want to know if you have Covid then ask someone to buy a Covid test from the pharmacy.
If it tests positive, then you shouldn’t go out or be around people. The NHS recommend children and young people under the age of 18 stay indoors for 3 days after having taken the test.
Adults should avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the test. But leave it 10 days if you know anyone who has a higher risk of being very ill with Covid such as a person with a weakened immune system.
While at home, wear a mask if you do have contact with other people and wash your hands regularly. Also, clean surfaces that you touch such as light switches and door handles. Wipe down kitchen surfaces and keep windows open where possible.
It is also a good idea to keep a distance of around 6ft (2 metres) from the other people in your household.
The most important thing you can do is to have a Covid vaccine or top-up. The vaccine may not stop you from catching Covid, but it should stop you from becoming very ill.
Wash your hands after you have been outside and touching surfaces, especially before you eat. Use a spray disinfectant to clean surfaces, light switches, and door handles.
When you cough or sneeze make sure your mouth is covered. Dispose of any tissues immediately and wash your hands.
You can have a Novavax Covid vaccination at VSM Pharmacy. It’s a private service, but the costs are lower than other pharmaceutical establishments. The cost is £49.99. All you need to do is contact the pharmacy and make an appointment.
The vaccine is available to anybody over the age of 12 who has not had a Covid vaccine in the last 3 months.
Novavax is different from the other vaccine types because it is protein-based just like vaccines that have been used for years in shingles, hepatitis B and other vaccines which have a very good safety profile.
You can pop in and speak to a member of staff. You can also give us a call on 01276 21002. Alternatively, you can fill in the contact form on our website and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
If you need a Hepatitis A vaccination, the Travel Clinic at VSM Pharmacy can help you . The cost of the vaccination is £49.99 for two doses.
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