One time my grandmother came home to a line of children out her garage. As she made her way to the front of the line she discovered her children Scott and Eric had proclaimed themselves doctors and were giving the children of the neighborhood their routine vaccinations with a nail for a needle. I don't think it went over very well with the children's parents.
That being said, I've chosen to follow my fathers footsteps but with a markedly less direct approach. I talked to the travel medicine people here at Penn and I've got a list of things for us to get. We can get them now, but they are pretty expensive so its also ok to space them out as long as we get the 1st shot appx 4-6wks prior to leaving. I'd say plan for June rather than January unless you really want to.
- Tetanus: You need a booster if you haven't had one in the last 5 yrs.
- HepA: This is a 2 series shot. Get the 1st one 4-6wks prior to departure, the 2nd should be done 6-18 months later.
- HepB: This is a 3 series shot. We are right on the cusp of the requirment that made it 3 shots instead of 2. When I went to Honduras last year I had to get my 3rd shot so I'm guessing most of us will need the 3rd shot.
- Polio Booster: you run like you have polio in your legs. Thanks Cal, We all need boosters for this if you haven't gotten one since you turned 20. It's just 1 shot and will give us livelong immunity.
- Typhoid: 1 shot series, or there is a pill version available but this must be taken in a VERY strict way (ie on day 1, 3, 5, and 7 must be refridgerated etc. ) the pill version will give you 5 yrs of immunity while the shot only gives you 2 yrs of immunity. Brandon, the pill might make things more convenient for you (less shots) as for the rest of us... maybe not eh?
- Yellow Fever: 1 shot series. Will give you 10 yrs of immunity. There is some new controversy recently published in the NEJM yesterday regarding the vaccine http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/22/2222. But when I look at it, we have every reason to get the vaccine (young, traveling to endmic area, negligible risk factors for developing the adverse events, vs. the risk of getting yellow fever) Tanzania is an endemic area, I'd get it. Actually I got it, last year.
- Rabies: suggested. My suggestion: avoid rabid animals. If you find yourself frequenly followed by rabid raccoons... get it, though the residents here say they'd get it.
- Malaria: no vaccine but we will need an MD to write for prophylaxis meds. Brandon greatly dislikes Lariam (Mefloquine) and I agree. I think i'm gonna try to get Malarone. Info: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentMalariaDrugsPublic.aspx show your MD this.
OMG i'm sorry this is so long but a few more tips:
- Find out at your next MD visit what vaccines they can give you. Most docs can get the Hep A and B ones, and probably the polio one. If you get them at the office visit you should only have to pay the copay (depending on your insurance) and that should def. drop down the cost of some of these vaccines. Others like typhoid and yellow fever more than likely can only be found at public health centers. Check this website to find a place close to you that will be able to give the vaccines: https://www.istm.org/WebForms/Members/IndexSecure.aspx?sUrl=%2fclinicdir%2fclinicdir.aspx
- when you get the anti-malarial pills filled go to a national pharmacy chain b/c they ususally have better prices. (call around: walgreens, cvs, rite aid etc.) Also, I wouldn't get the meds over there.. you just can't be sure what you're getting.. unless you are experienced w/ that sort of thing I'd advise against it. The FDA does a good job of making sure you are taking what you pay for, even if you pay alot.
OK! I'm done, see you all at Christmas!!!! so very excited!
PS they can and will give most of these shots all at once.. (up to 3 or 4 per arm/butt!) so if you dont' want that, don't wait till the last minute (June) to get them done.
7 comments:
CLARIFICATION: by "get your 1st shot" I mean get the 1st shot of each vaccination if its a 2 or 3 series vaccination. All vaccinations except for hep A should be completed before begining of June.
OH MY.
I guess I'll just print this out and show it to the doctor? . . . .
I thought that we were supposed to go to a clinic . . . .
To reduce costs... we can try to get the common vaccines : Hep A and B and polio at our doctors offices. The more uncommon ones will probably have to be done at the clinic. Check the link I provided to find a travel medicine clinic near you. :) I can help w/ that if necessary.
steph mentioned last night that she or a colleague of hers might be able to administer these shots. is this an option?
wait mols - for any sort of lower cost you think?
yah, i mean, thats the impression she gave me. i dunno though, em, can you look into this?
Hep A and B are good to get. Yellow Fever you WILL need if your crossing borders in Africa. That should really be it.
A tetanus booster might be of benefit, but typhoid, don't worry about unless your drinking tap water. Unless you're eating cripple poo, don't worry about the polio. The only country in Africa where polio is still endemic is Nigeria.
Malaria meds, buy em here. Much cheaper. Or don't take em at all and just have the cure pills when you start getting a bad headache.
DO bring pepto and immodium: the squirts are practically an inevitability.
The travel clinics will sell you any shot you want. I got talked into Malaria meds when I went to Thailand. When I came here, I already had the heps for food service so all I got was Yellow Fever, then Meningitis when there were some bad cases going around.
There's so many different schools of thought on all this you gotta do what makes you feel comfortable. If you just get yellow fever, 99% chance you'll come home with nothing but great pictures and a cool stories. One doctor will say you must must must get typhoid, while another will say oh, you don't really need it.
Unfortunately, there's no right answer.
That's my 2¢.
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