To Jab or not to Jab

One of the least pleasant parts of getting ready to go to India is all the shots. Turns out this is a big deterrents to travel in that part of the world for many of the people I've talked to.

Our tour guide did not make it mandatory for us to get them but even my holistic acupuncturist said "do the Typhoid one!" I was on the fence for a while and then I decided it was all or nothing.  After talking to the Travel Doc and a few others I decided to just go ahead and get it over with. Yes, hearing about a friend's Aunt coming back with Polio did light a little fire under me.  Most of them are good for life and the ones that are only good for a few years are for the super nasty bugs you really want to be protected from. 

Turns out I haven't had a valid Tetanus, Polio or Measles Mumps Rubella. I remember drinking some green potion as a child and I guess that wasn't really as good as it should be. The one I was dreading was the Tetanus. I actually remember the size/bore and pain of the shot I got years ago. I also remember not being able to use my arm for a day or two. Thinking that wouldn't be good for my massage abilities I was leery. Turns out they have improved the whole thing with a smaller needle, less vaccine and yes you are sore but not like it used to be.

Week one we did Polio, Hep A&B combo shot, and Tetanus. Took the Typhoid pills every other day for a week (pills last 5 years vs the shot which lasts 3 at the same cost)

Week two we did HepA&B combo shot #2 and Measles-Mumps-Rubella

And now we are coming up on week 4 so we go back for our last HepA/B and if our travel doc has been lucky we will get the first in a 3 shot series for Japanese Encephalitis.  We almost got away with not having to do this one but the Doc said "You don't need this one really...unless you are going to be in the very north of India near the Himalayas." Great, since all our travel is in the north and we are doing a Fishing/Camping trip at the foot of the Himalayas I guess it is more shots for us, yippee!

Ironically we are doing all this prevention and not taking Malarial meds. Turns out the best way to deal with Malaria is to take a particular anti-biotic for a month before, during and for at least 3 weeks after a trip to an area with Malaria. Since I happen to be extremely allergic to the particular recommended anti-biotic, this tactic is right out! I will "dip" some clothes, wear deet and keep covered as much as possible. 

I truly feel that in this case ignorance was bliss. I traveled through Asia 3 times before without even knowing this was recommended  and of course never had a problem. But now that I know what's out there I guess it would have been tempting fate not to do what I could to avoid contracting any of these diseases. 

Until we decide to journey to Africa, where the yellow fever monster lives,  I think I am just about all jabbed up.