Wednesday, October 08, 2008

A Shot In The Arm For Thanet

Reader Doc Atherton writes:

Hello sir! First off, as ever I'm enjoying the blog! And second, thanks for joining my Pierremont Pharmacy Group. It may be in Broadstairs but there's an East Cliffer at the helm!

Would it be possible for you to put something on your blog about flu? It's very sad but most GP's in Thanet will only give the flu jab to high risk patients and only after they've done them (and only if they have any vaccines left over) will they offer healthy patients the flu jab.

The thing is, it's the healthy people who get around more that carry the virus around with them and it's these people who get annoyed as they are the ones who usually end up with flu because they haven't been able to get a flu jab. So we are offering a Flu Clinic so these people can actually get one!

Now I know that we're in Broadstairs but we are an independent local business in Thanet up against people like Boots etc. Actually, I don't think Boots are offering the vaccine. There's only one independent pharmacy in Ramsgate (Newington) and they're not doing it.

I know a lot of people read your blog so it would be really nice if you could let the people of Thanet know that there IS something they can do about it. Also, as readers of ECR they can get 10% off the usual price of £14.99 by going to this link: http://www.pierremontpharmacy.com/OFFER.html

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thats loads cheaper than the private wing of a certain hospital where we have been going!
2 takers here!

Anonymous said...

Here's another shot in the arm for thanet!

http://www.kentinternationalairport-manston.com/masterplan/Masterplan.pdf

Anonymous said...

Getting a flu shot is just like gambling. The medical profession GUESSES what strain of flu will make the rounds that year and produce serum for that guess. Well - guess what? They are often wrong. Humans can be infected with influenza types A, B, and C viruses. Subtypes of influenza A that are currently circulating among people worldwide include H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 viruses. The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season.

This year’s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains. They are: A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus;
A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.

The 2008-09 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.

Look at all the other flu viruses you can still get - all those other "A" "B" & "C" viruses!!! Why gamble and inject your body with a foreign substance in the off chance that you actually come down with the right kind of flu?

I have never received a flu shot and it has been well over a decade (so long ago I can't remember) since I have had the flu.

Paying attention to your environment, keeping clear of sick people, washing your hands twice as much as you think necessary & eating a healthy diet will do just as much good as injecting yourself with a they serum.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for letting people know Richard.

Anonymous 4.07pm, you might see it as a gamble but the 3 strains chosen for the vaccine are on the advice of the World Health Organisation so it's normally pretty good advice. We're not forcing people to have it. If you don't want it, don't have it, but there are lots of people who do want it but can't get it from their doctor so now we're providing them with an opportunity throughout the flu season.

In general by having a flu jab can help you to stop passing it on to other people as, although you might not get it, if you've not had a jab you may pass it on. But by having the jab, you reduce the risk of infecting others considerably.

A better explanation can be found on a video at the following link

http://www.pierremontpharmacy.com/fluclinic.html

Anonymous said...

When you have finished pushing drugs to old people for your mates, perhaps you could investigate to see if TDC had savings in Icesave. If so, how much and what impact will it have?

If not, where is the money stashed? I heard that sandy keeps in his sock drawer

Anonymous said...

Actually the pushing is toward the younger generation not the older ones! And it's also about raising awareness.

As for investigating TDC investments, I'm not a journalist.

What I can offer is some sound advice, pop to the opticians! This topic is for awareness of flu jabs and how they can help some people.

There are plenty of topics on various blogs about money, TDC, chinagate etc etc

Frankly if I could get PCT funding to supply the vaccine free of charge to anyone who wants it I would. The sad fact is I can't, so I need to charge for it.

In my own opinion, these things (and other services) should be freely available to anyone who wants them on the NHS.

Still, if you'd like me to plug something, i'll give the opticians 3 doors up the road from us a plug! They're very pleasant in there! ;)

Lucy Mail said...

Must be an awful strain, Doc.
Still, don't let it get under your skin, eh?

Anonymous said...

I take it you were well paid for that comercial ECR, old boy.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Unlike you I don't take commercials, Matt old chap.

Although if the Doc wants to give me a small prick for gratis I won't say no!