A question for our resident nurses and/or medical professionals.

[trotsky]

OK so I'm going to be traveling internationally this fall and would like to get a booster on my vaccinations just to be on the safe side. (Even though it's just Western Europe.)

CDC recommendations for adults ...ahem... my age include an MMR booster and Tdap. Secondarily recommended are Hep A, Hep B, and Meningococcal. I called my clinic and they won't schedule a vaccination without a doctor consultation and approval. Really? Is that just a clinic policy or is it standard throughout the industry? I'm in fine health, no immune system problems or anything like that. Never had a reaction to a vaccine.

The required dr. appt just means I would have to wait another month, late August when we will be traveling in September so I'd just like some extra time for the vaccines to work their magic is all.

[dropkickpa]

1. Go to the health department

They do them too.

[Warpy]

2. Take the appointment

because the doc can counsel you on exactly what you might need. However, you're cutting it rather close for vaccinations.

The CDC puts out a list of travel clinics where you can get you shots before traveling. Maybe you can get into a clinic earlier, in time for the shots to work.

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/

[trotsky]

4. Thanks Warpy and dropkick for the advice.

I will call both my state health dept and my clinic and see what is the earliest option. Warpy, do you think anything besides MMR and Tdap are necessary?

[Warpy]

6. Depends on what countries you're going to

and an outfit that specializes in travel immunizations can be your best guide.

[charlie]

3. It's been an honor knowing you, trotsky

Taking one for the team so the rest of us can keep on winning the innernets... I don't know what to say. When you come back autistic and crippled, we'll have to disavow you, so I want you to know right now -- you're a GIANT among men.

I'm getting all verklempt... I gotta go.

[trotsky]

5. BWAH HA HA

Nicely done. :rofl:

[Heddi]

7. Meh. Go to Walgreens or a local pharmacy

they'll give you the injections no problem

With Hep A, though, those are shots that are 6 months apart. If you're going somewhere where the water is *very* questionable, then get the 1st shot, and then they'll give you a shot of Immunoglobulin to make up for the 2nd shot, then you get the 2nd shot 6 months later. It won't be the best immunity against Hep A, but it's better than nothing.

Hep B---those are 3 shots over the course of 9 months, I believe, 1 shot, 2nd shot 3 months later 3rd shot 6 months later or something like that.

Where the hell are you going to get a Memingococcal vaccine? Are you going to be living in a dorm or something?

Here's my questions (and I'm not just any nurse..I'm a REGISTERED NURSE and that means something!):

1) where, exactly, are you travelling
2) where are you going to be staying---in the woods, a hostel, a hotel, the shelter....
3) how long are you going to be there
4) what exotic things are you going to do there?

Feel free to PM me.

I ask because in Jan, Mr. Hed and I went to Thailand and I just got 1 of my Hep A shots (never made it to the 2nd one). Already had Hep B and the others (MMR and Tdap) and I was fine. And I drank the water, and walked in the water, and ate the salad...never even FARTED when I was there (seriously), much less never got anything close to Delhi Belly.

HOwever, the CDC page suggested I get all kinds of vaccines....japanese encephalitis, and something for dengue fever and another shot made from chicken peepee or something....screw that noise. They were unnecessary and kind of a "CYA" for the CDC

If you're going to big cities with relatively modern (as in, more modern than 1600's standards) sewage system, you should be fine. You don't have time for the HepB anyway, and the HepA..meh...maybe, if you feel like it. Still confused about the Meningococcal....MMR booster makes kind of sense, mostly the Tdap makes the most sense because mst people don't get their tetnus boosters anyways so that's just plain safety.

Ooooh and for the MMR--you may not have to get a booster if you get a lab test called a "titer" and it will show if you still have immunity to M, M, and R. You can get the booster...it's not going to hurt you (I ended up getting like 5 MMR shots in 2 years because I kept losing my paperwork showing I Had it, and I needed proof of the original shot PLUS a titer 6 months later, but I also didn't have my baby vaccine paperwork so it was ridiculous. I am *SO* never going to get measels, mumps, or rubella. I bet I can convey my super immunity to you JUST THROUGH MY THOUGHTS!!!

[onager]

8. Be aware of requirements at your destination(s).

I think the CDC can tell you about that. And if not, Google can...

I mention this because once I ran into a neat little hassle when I was in the USA, getting ready to return to Saudi Arabia (where I lived/worked at the time).

It was the hajj (pilgrimage) season in Mecca at the time and an outbreak of typhoid was going on. This was fairly normal, with millions of people from all over the world coming together in Mecca with wildly varying levels of immunity. And varying levels of disease. (No, Allah never stepped in, which I am sure surprises you.)

The Saudi government said all foreigners coming in had to produce a "shot card" with their passport when they got off the plane. To prove they had the vaccination.

The important part: anyone without that stamp would be vaccinated on the spot. At the airport. By Saudi soldiers.

I'm in Los Angeles, so it only took a few phone calls to find a doctor who specialized in quickly sticking journalists, actors, and other riff-raff. :-)

But you don't want this to happen, though it probably wouldn't in Western Europe.

Usual Irrelevant Trivia: you can happily drink ordinary tap water in Vienna, Austria. It comes straight from the Alps and the Viennese even brag about it.

[trotsky]

9. Most Europeans have a phobia about tapwater, that is for sure.

I remember when I first arrived in Germany back in college, and a bunch of us American students were in one of our classes and we mentioned drinking Leitungswasser. Holy crap, the reaction from our teacher was one of mortified disgust. In some parts of Europe, maybe it isn't completely wise but for the most part their water is as safe (if not safer) than ours.

Yeah, count me among the surprised that Allah doesn't protect his followers from disease during their sacred pilgrimage. :)

[TZ]

10. FYI, I wouldn't worry about Hep A really

although that can be food borne. As a lab tech the only shot I really need at the moment is Hep B although I did have Hep A about 12 years ago. I work with blood products human and animal. I suspect you don't need A.
BTW, I survived having Hep A, B, and tetanus all in one day when I first started in a lab and see how I turned out...well maybe that will be a turnoff..:crazy:

[trotsky]

11. Like I'd take medical advice from you.

You're part of the problem, you big pharma SHILL! ;-)

[dropkickpa]

12. I have you beat, I had all that AND rabies on top of it

neener neener neener!

[TZ]

13. That explains a lot!

:P

[dropkickpa]

14. Teehee!

Don't it just!

[trotsky]

15. And here I thought you had brushed your teeth and forgotten to rinse.

Go figure.

[Silent3]

16. You need to travel someplace where you need malaria meds.

I went to Zambia and was given mefloquine to take. I think I slept less than four hours over the span of about 5 days, had bizarre dreams when I did sleep, and surprisingly didn't feel all that tired from the lack of sleep.

Your side effects may vary. :)