Video: Day in the Life, Pharmacist

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – (WCBI) BJ Cougle has worked as a pharmacist for more than a decade. Last year, he and his wife, who is also a pharmacist, opened BJ’S Family Pharmacy located on Jackson Street in Starkville. Since then the former railroad depot has been filled with a different type of traffic. From filling prescriptions to recommending over the counter medications for whatever ails you, BJ and his team are there to help you feel better. But to this team, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure– especially when it comes to flu season.

“It ranges from the new borns to the elderly. Something we see very high incidences of here in the state of Mississippi. It can range from October to March. In Mississippi, we typically range in January or February. It affects a large percentage of our population.”

Bj’s refrigerator is fully stocked with the immunizations. Every year, the virus mutates and changes. The shot contains two to four different strains of influenza. A regular customer volunteered to roll up his sleeve.. Because I am a big ole chicken!

“Inter-muscular injections, give it anywhere you want to, the arm is fine.”

“Basic side effects, come from what we call the basic inflammatory response or flu like symptoms that come from the shot. Fever, chills, fatigue, just feeling down, malaise. That kind of thing. It might actually feel like the flu for a little bit, but you don’t really have the flu. It is just your body’s response to it. The best thing we tell people, is take two tylenol and go to bed, and they will feel better in the morning.,”

Despite medical advancements, there’s still a chance you can get the flu.

“People who get the flu vaccine are about 70 to 80% covered, However; different strains come out that are not in the flu vaccine. People can be exposed to the virus before they get the flu shot or around the same time, and so that is another reason people can get the flu around the same time they get the flu shot.”

So, be sure to cover that other 20% by washing your hands, and avoiding contact with those who appear to be sick.

For BJ Cougle, keeping you well is just one more day in the life.

Categories: Local News

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