When I was going to India in 2006, I was told to get my shots first. Which shots? Well, the ones they recommend. They who?
Fortunately a search for “travel shots” brought up a whole aspect of life I hadn’t considered (since I was still terrified of flying at that point): travel clinics. The people who have the shots to give you and tell you what shots you need. And where is ours? Just behind the Emergency Room at Erie County Medical Center. Who knew?
I’ve been back since, getting my shots for Guatemala in 2008. And then today, to get my shots for Haiti. Did you know, if you get vaccinated against Hepatitis A, and then you get a booster shot 6-12 months later, it’s good for 10 years? They told me that in 2006, but I never managed to go back to get it in time. But in 2008 after Guatemala, I, um, didn’t go either. So today, they mocked me. Mocked me for having to spend a hundred bucks again for a Hep A shot, when I could have just been halfway through the term of the shots from 2006 if I had only made that appointment… “Time for the Hep A shot – you seem to love those!” “Side effects can be similar to flu symptoms, but your body should be used to Hep A by now from all those shots.” “You know, you don’t get a free Hep A shot if you buy five.”
In a world where others are often called upon to save me from myself, they made me make an appointment for the booster in February before I could leave. I love those guys.
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