Shots, shots and more shots

After the shock and excitement of the fact that KC and I are going to go to Africa, twice, during this adventure – the reality set in, we are going to have to get a lot of shots! Well, for those of you who know me, know that I hate needles. I hate needles SOOO much. I almost pass out every time I even see them. I asked our agency about what vaccinations we will need and while they don’t tell us that we are required to get any of them, they told us that we might want to check out the CDC website. Well – I finally got brave this week and did a Google search to see what shots we will have to get. Lord help me when I get it done and be with KC since she will have to hold my hand…
This is what came right off of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website:
• Routine - Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.
• Yellow Fever - CDC yellow fever vaccination recommendation for travelers to Ethiopia: For all travelers ≥9 months of age Ethiopia requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. Vaccination should be given 10 days before travel and at 10-year intervals if there is ongoing risk. Find an authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccination clinic.
• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) - Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection (see map) where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission (see map), especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident).
• Typhoid - Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in East Africa, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water.
• Meningococcal (meningitis) - Recommended if you plan to visit countries that experience epidemics of meningococcal disease during December through June.
• Rabies - Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites.
• Polio - Recommended for adult travelers who have received a primary series with either inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) or oral polio vaccine (OPV). They should receive another dose of IPV before departure. For adults, available data do not indicate the need for more than a single lifetime booster dose with IPV.
• Malaria - Areas of Ethiopia with Malaria: All areas at altitudes <2,500 m (<8,202 ft), except none in Addis Ababa. (THANK YOU – I don’t want to have to take any more than I am forced to.)
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/ethiopia.aspx

KC and I have already had to go see our doctor and pediatrician way more than they would probably like, except for the great co-pay that they get every time we show up with another medical form we need them to sign off on. In the picture above, that is KC getting her blood drawn so that they can do all of the blood tests that they have to do on us, which was done weeks ago. Then her also pointing to where they stuck her for her TB test. She couldn’t get a picture of me; I needed her to keep me occupied while they stuck that huge needle in my arm.

-j.w. godwin