Ian Littler Pharmacy

Ian Littler Pharmacy The pharmacy that cares has been providing health care for you and families for the last 20 years.

We are located in a delightful village called Tarvin near Chester but we also deliver our services to the wider area of Western Cheshire.

Vaccines 3How safe are vaccines? All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child. I...
30/09/2025

Vaccines 3

How safe are vaccines?

All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child. It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval.
Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it’s monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is also carefully monitored to make sure it still works. Anyone can report a suspected side effect of a vaccination to the MHRA through the yellow card scheme.

What are the side effects of vaccination?

Most of the side effects are mild and do not last long. The most common ones include:
• The area where the needle goes in looking red, swollen and feeling a bit sore for 2-3 days
• Feeling a bit unwell or developing a high temperature for 1-2 days
• Older children and adults may feel faint
• Feeling tired, having a headache, mild fever or flu-like symptoms.

Some children might also cry and be upset immediately after the injection. This is normal and they should feel better after a cuddle. Common side effects usually pass after a few days.

Vaccines 2How Vaccines Work Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases. I...
23/09/2025

Vaccines 2

How Vaccines Work

Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases. It’s much safer to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them. Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can give you lifelong protection.
Having a vaccine also benefits your whole community through “herd immunity”. If enough people are vaccinated, it’s harder for the disease spread to those people who cannot have vaccines i.e. people who are ill, have had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or have a weakened immune system.

Vaccines 1Why are vaccines important? Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases but beware of a...
16/09/2025

Vaccines 1

Why are vaccines important?

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases but beware of anti-vaccine stories which are spread online through social media and off-line. This information may not be based on scientific evidence and could put your child at risk of a serious illness. All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.

However, if people stop having vaccines, it’s possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again. Measles and mumps are starting to appear again in England, even though the MMR vaccine is the best protection against both diseases.

This is serious, as measles can lead to life-threatening complications and mumps can cause hearing loss. If 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, this would stop measles spreading completely. However, measles, mumps and rubella can quickly spread again if fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated. Since vaccines were introduced into the UK diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people have gone away or are very rarely seen.

Osteoporosis 5Quiz Q1. What is osteoporosis?A1. It is a health condition that weakens bones making them more likely ...
09/09/2025

Osteoporosis 5

Quiz

Q1. What is osteoporosis?
A1. It is a health condition that weakens bones making them more likely to break.
Q2. How many fractures happen in the UK each year?
A2. 549,000.
Q3. How much do these cost the NHS?
A3. More than £4.7bn each year.
Q4. How many people die within the first year of having a broken hip?
A4. 26%.
Q5. How many hospital bed days do hip fractures use each year?
A5. Half a million.
Q6. When are bones thickest and strongest?
A6. Up to your late 20s.
Q7. What are the most common injuries?
A7. Wrist, hip and vertebrae.
Q8. What increases the risk of osteoporosis?
A8. Taking high dose steroids, certain medical conditions, family history of osteoporosis, eating disorders, low BMI, not exercising, heavy drinking and smoking, long periods of inactivity.
Q9. How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
A9. Using an online programme such as FRAX or bone density scan (DEXA).
Q10. What medicines are used to treat osteoporosis?
A10. Bisphosphonates, SERMs, parathyroid hormone, biological medicines, calcium and vitamin D, HRT.

Osteoporosis 4Quiz Q1. What is osteoporosis?Q2. How many fractures happen in the UK each year?Q3. How much do thes...
02/09/2025

Osteoporosis 4

Quiz

Q1. What is osteoporosis?
Q2. How many fractures happen in the UK each year?
Q3. How much do these cost the NHS?
Q4. How many people die within the first year of having a broken hip?
Q5. How many hospital bed days do hip fractures use each year?
Q6. When are bones thickest and strongest?
Q7. What are the most common injuries?
Q8. What increases the risk of osteoporosis?
Q9. How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
Q10. What medicines are used to treat osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis 3Treating Osteoporosis Treating osteoporosis involves treating and preventing fractures and using medicines...
26/08/2025

Osteoporosis 3

Treating Osteoporosis

Treating osteoporosis involves treating and preventing fractures and using medicines to strengthen bones. Although a diagnosis is based on the results of your bone density scan, the decision about what treatment you need if any, is based on a number of other factors including:
• Age
• S*x
• Risk of breaking a bone
• Previous injury history

A number of different medicines can be used to treat osteoporosis.
Bisphosphonates slow the rate that bone is broken down in your body. This maintains bone density and reduces your risk of a broken bone. They are given as a tablet, liquid or an injection.
Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have the same effect on bone as the hormone oestrogen. They help to maintain bone density and reduce the risk of fracture, particularly of the spine.
Parathyroid hormone is produced naturally in the body. It regulates the amount of calcium in the bone. These treatments are used to stimulate cells to create new bone. You take them as an injection once a day.
Biological medicines work by slowing down the rate at which your bones are broken down and speeding up the rate at which your cells build bone. They are given by injection every month or every few months.
Calcium and vitamin D supplements. Calcium is the main mineral found in bone and having enough calcium as part of a healthy balanced diet is important to maintain healthy bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.
HRT has been shown to keep bones strong and reduce the risk of breaking a bone. Whether HRT is right for you depends on your age, symptoms and any risk factors you have. Discuss the benefits and risks with your GP.

Address

The Cobbles 28-30 High Street
Chester
CH38EE

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 6:30pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

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Protect yourself against FLU

Keep well this winter. A flu vaccination provides the best protection against getting the influenza virus. We provide the free NHS flu jab as well as the private flu jab service which only costs you £12

We operate a walk in service as well as an appointment programme so give us call and we’ll happily book you in.