The pneumococcal vaccine isn’t suitable if you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or an ingredient in the vaccine.

We offer the pneumococcal vaccine on both a private and NHS service. It is available for free on the NHS for:

• Babies

• People aged 65 and over

• Children and adults at higher risk of getting seriously ill

For full details, check the NHS website

At your appointment, the pharmacist will carry out a short health check to make sure the vaccine is suitable for you. The vaccine itself is given as a quick injection, which only takes a few seconds. The whole process usually lasts around 15–20 minutes, including a short observation period afterwards to ensure you feel well before leaving.

The most common side effects of the pneumococcal vaccine can include:

• swelling or pain where the injection was given

• a high temperature

• feeling tired

• loss of appetite

A severe allergic reaction is very serious and rare. Our pharmacists are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

Check the NHS website for full details