What you need to know about H1N1 (swine flu).

A never-before-seen flu strain — a mix of pig, human and bird viruses — is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere, but has resulted in some fatalities in Mexico and the U.S..  Three confirmed cases have been identified in Virginia as of May 4, 2009; all individuals have recovered. While authorities say we should not panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings.

Here’s what you need to know:


Q: How do I protect myself and my family?
A: For now, take common-sense precautions. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue that you throw away or by sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand. Wash hands frequently; if soap and water aren't available, hand gels can substitute. Stay home if you're sick and keep children home from school if they are.


Q: How easy is it to catch this virus?
A: Scientists don't yet know if it takes fairly close or prolonged contact with someone who's sick or if it's more easily spread. But in general, flu viruses spread through uncovered coughs and sneezes or — and this is important — by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands. Flu viruses can live on surfaces for several hours, such as a doorknob just touched by someone who sneezed into his or her hand.


Q: Is it treatable?
A: Yes.  The virus is treatable with the flu drugs Tamiflu or Relenza, but not with two older flu medications.


Q: What are the symptoms?
A: The symptoms are similar to a regular human flu — fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting.


Q: Did last winter's flu shot protect me?
A: Probably not. Even though the vaccine did protect against the Type A family of flu viruses this new swine flu belongs to, preliminary research shows is that the flu vaccine does not offer cross protection.


Q: Why are people calling it swine flu if it's not just from pigs? Did it really come from pigs?
A: A pig can spread its own strain of influenza and every so often people catch one, usually after contact with the animals. This new virus is a mix of human, pig, and bird viruses but the name was shortened to swine flu — and unlike typical swine flu, it is spreading person-to-person.

Q: So is it safe to eat pork?
A: Yes, it is safe to eat pork.  Swine influenza viruses don't spread through food.

LIVING WITH DIABETES
Join an informal discussion group for people with diabetes or anyone interested in learning more about diabetes.
All meetings are facilitated by a diabetes educator.

Thursday May 21, 2009 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Spring into Summer
How do the changing seasons affect our diabetes care? Come and learn tips for summer eating, exercise, and travel.

Thursday June 18, 2009 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Carb Counting Revisited
Carbohydrates should be part of healthy delicious meals, but they do affect blood sugar more than other foods. Join us to learn how counting carbs can make your meal planning more flexible while keeping blood sugar in range.

Thursday July 18, 2009 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Diabetes Questions and Answers
Diabetes is confusing. Bring your questions or come and just listen as we discuss diabetes. Write your question on a card and enter a drawing for a prize.

Meetings are held in the community room of the Ukrops Chesterfield Crossing store 11361 Midlothian Turnpike across from Chesterfield Towne Center. The Ukrops community room is on the 2nd floor at the front of the store. An elevator is available. Meetings are free and no reservations are needed.

Call the Ukrops hotline at 340-3005 or 1-800-272-9683 for further information

Thanks to Ukrops and Roche Diagnostics for making these meetings possible.

Ukrop’s/Manor Care Coffee Chat
Where: Ukrop’s Crossridge
When: 3rd Wednesday of every month

The next Coffee Chat will take place on May 20 at 11am upstairs in the meeting room at Ukrop’s Crossridge. We will be discussing Retirement + Investment Management and Estate Settlements and the Probate Process. There will be a question and answer session after the talk.

Ukrop’s/Manor Care Coffee Chats feature speakers that talk about various subjects of interest for seniors and middle-aged adults with a built-in question and answer session at every event.

We carry a full line of prescription drugs including the highest quality generics, so you never need to worry about the potency or integrity of your medication. We also offer flavoring for liquid prescriptions, as well as compounding services and durable medical equipment in select stores.   Ukrop's Pharmacy is your hometown pharmacy supporting local efforts such as the American Heart Association Heart Walk, Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the American Diabetes Association and many others.

We accept all major insurance plans. We bill your insurance company electronically and your insurance provider communicates your copay. If you don't see Ukrop's Pharmacy listed as a provider in your health insurance directory - give us a call! Most insurance plans publish directories for national distribution; therefore, local pharmacies like Ukrop's sometimes get left off their lists. Chances are we DO accept your plan! In addition, we accept Medicare PART B assignment for diabetic supplies.

Enjoy the convenience of one-stop shopping at Ukrop's 20 pharmacy locations. With this many locations, you can surely find Ukrop's Pharmacy in your area. Just drop off your prescription at the pharmacy and we'll get it ready while you shop. If your transferring your prescription from another pharmacy, just let us know and we will do all the work for you!

Skilled professional pharmacists with extensive healthcare training.   Our knowledgeable and trustworthy staff will be happy to discuss your prescriptions with you. If you have questions about your medication, or if you would like to discuss drug interactions, possible side effects, or any other related questions, just ask. Our pharmacists can also answer questions regarding vitamins, herbals, and other non-prescription products.

Speedy Refill Service. Once you have a prescription filled at Ukrop's Pharmacy, you can access our 24-hour automated refill service to request your refills. Simply call the number on your prescription label, enter the appropriate information, and we'll handle the rest. With this handy system, even when our pharmacy is closed, you can call in your prescriptions and pick them up later.

Need help choosing other products? Whether you are overwhelmed by variety, not sure about potential drug interactions, or need advice on recent prescription to over-the-counter switches, Ukrop's Pharmacists can help.   Our caring team is knowledgeable about all facets of healthcare, and can offer sound suggestions when it comes to new products, remedies, or providing information on whatever ails you.   You can also call our free Ukrop's Nutrition and Food Safety Hotline at (804) 340-3005 or (800) 272-9683, or email us at livehealthy@ukrops.com.

At Ukrop's Pharmacy, you never need to worry about the potency or quality of your medication. From standard pills to the most advanced scientific formulas, we carry only the highest quality generics. Nothing from those discount internet web sites, and no imported discount drugs. Every single medicine we carry is FDA approved and comes to us through the appropriate regulated channels.

A comprehensive immunization program is an integral part of our patient-focused services at Ukrop’s Pharmacy. Through a variety of Wellness activities our pharmacists and nutritionists help patients live healthier lives while dealing with their particular health challenges. Our immunization program is a long-standing addition to these programs actually providing the tools for our pharmacists to help our patients prevent disease. Each of our immunizing pharmacists has successfully completed a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized disease and immunization education certificate program offered through the American Pharmacists Association. Each year our pharmacists provide thousands of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines to our patients. One of our favorite “statistics” is that for every 1,000 influenza vaccines we provide, we save 1 life. But we do not stop there. Every day our pharmacists are providing routine vaccines to adults as part of our commitment to a year ‘round immunization program.

            Routine vaccines include:
                        Influenza (injectable and nasal)
                        Pneumococcal vaccine
                        Hepatitis A
                        Hepatitis B
                        Human paplliomavirus (HPV)
                        Meningococcal
                        M-M-R
                        Shingles
                        Tetanus ( Td and Tdap)
                        Varicella (chickenpox)

Call any of our pharmacies discuss your routine vaccines needs or to schedule a visit.

Pre-Travel Immunization, Medications and Counseling

International travel is always exciting but foreign diseases are anything but exciting. Whether traveling the exotic cities of the Far East, the sands of the Kalahari Desert or the mountains of Peru travelers to many destinations outside of the United States are at risk for disease. To have your “trip of a lifetime” interrupted for a few days is bad enough but many of these diseases can be devastating and possibly fatal. In a continuing effort to help you protect your health, Ukrops Pharmacy offers pre-travel health counseling and vaccinations. Several of our pharmacy locations are staffed with pharmacists trained to educate you about the appropriate medications, vaccines and activities to help you travel safely. A traveler’s knowledge of vaccine needs, medication needs, food and water cautions, insect protection, sun protection, travel advisories and much more is needed for safe travel and our pharmacists, utilizing specialized information sources, can provide you with current information on all of these subjects. To offer complete travel vaccines, yellow fever vaccine must be available for those travelers to endemic areas. We are particularly proud that Ukrop’s pharmacy was the first pharmacy in the country to be approved as a yellow fever vaccination site.

Travel related vaccines include:
                        Japanese encephalitis vaccine
                        Polio vaccine (for adult travelers)
                        Rabies (pre- and post- exposure series)
                        Typhoid vaccine (oral and injectable)
                        Yellow fever vaccine

For Pre-Travel scheduling, please call:

Do you have diabetes?

Click here to view upcoming "Living Healthy With Diabetes" classes.

• Free blood pressure check
• Flu and Pneumonia Vaccines
• Total cholesterol including HDL
• Complete lipid profile includes cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides and requires a 12 hour fast
• Blood glucose to screen for diabetes

Health Screenings at Ukrop's Pharmacies

ConsumerMedSafety.org
Website designed to alert consumers to drug safety issues

Urinary Incontinence

Health & Wellness

Nutrition Counseling

Health Screenings

Wellness Classes

Gluten-Free Products

Low Sodium Products

Wellness Keys

Nutritional Info (.pdf)

Living Healthy
With Diabetes

Locations