VACCINATIONS AND ALL THAT

Friday 1-14-11

Donna:

The level of excitement is building.  Today we went for our elective shots.  I say elective because the government of Argentina does not require shots for entry into the country.  But if you research on the web you will find someone who just wouldn’t go anywhere without every shot that is available +2 and suggest you do the same.

There is this little mosquito that transmits yellow fever.  The CDC map shows that we will just be on the fringe of Yellow Fever Territory up at Iguasu Falls in Northern Argentina.

Brazil shares a border of Iguasu Falls with Argentina and the REAL yellow fever risk is in Brazil.  But who is to say that mosquitoes have GPS and know when they are looking for blood in Brazil and are really in Argentina?

The Yellow Fever vaccine is ‘live’ and can frequently give you a high fever before your trip. So you must weigh the odds of where you will be along with how many mosquitoes will be there vs the risk of having a severe reaction from the vaccine.

My neurologist suggested I not get the live vaccine.  He didn’t say exactly why but it makes sense that someone with an autoimmune disease (MS) shouldn’t get a new active virus introduced into his or her body. Dead viruses like Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid seem to be ok.

2^nd post

When we were at the travel ‘shots’ clinic there were several people that came in for their monthly Vitamin B-12 shot @ 20 bucks a shot.  I asked the nurse why someone gets these (having heard of Mick Jagger getting these in the 70s before a big concert). She said it ‘gives people a sense of well being’.  I just had to have one.  Hey. I was there anyway.

Sure enough there were 2 women in the waiting room on our way out.

Guess B-12 doesn’t qualify as a drug.

Guess it takes 2 days to work. 

Stay tuned.

Barbara:

As Donna said, the suggested shots were Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus. 

Tetanus lasts ten years so if you’ve had one in the last ten years, you’re covered.

Hepatitis A – when I went to the travel clinic, I asked the nurse, “Why Hepatitis A?”  She asked, “Do you live in California?”  “Do you go out to eat?”  “ Do you travel?”  I answered yes to all.   Her advice: “Hepatitis A is the best shot you can have.  You are covered right away with the first shot and be sure and get the second shot in six months and then you’re covered for life.”

We also discussed Yellow Fever.  She said that unless you’re staying somewhere where cases of Yellow Fever have been reported, there’s no need to get the vaccine – instead lather up with high DEET mosquito repellent when you’re outside.  (NOTE:  mosquitoes are out in the early morning and late afternoon -- not when the sun is shining in the middle of the day – and are attracted to water.)