Me gone got me ‘jections! Well, some of them anyways. The lovely nurse Anne told me I’d just feel a little prick, then fearing the worst, it was one arm, two arms, to leave me with a bloodstream of virulent nastiness swimming round my body.
Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio is what she did me for. I now sit typing with my numb left arm relishing the prospect of the Japanese B Encephalitis, Tickborne Encephalitis, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Cholera and Rabies to come. Only problem is, lovely nurse Anne spoilt all the jabbing fun by letting slip that it’d likely cost me up to four hundred quid for the privilege of getting shot full of more of that muck. I told her only half jokingly that I’d rather get ill. But it seemed only to upset her professional propriety.
From the info she gave me, without the other injections, I would be susceptible to the following minor ailments:
- Japanese B Encephalitis: A life-threatening virus which affects the brain and is spread by mosquito bites.
- Tickborne Encephalitis: Similar to the above but spread by ticks.
- Hepatitis B: A highly infectious virus which affects the liver, causes jaundice and occasionally liver failure. Spread through contact with blood, semen and other bodily fluids.
- Tuberculosis: Usually attacks the lungs but can also affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, the genitourinary system, the gastrointestinal system, bones, joints and even the skin. Most commonly transmitted via droplet infection.
- Cholera: A serious bacterial disease spread through contaminated water and food. In its most severe forms, cholera is one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known and a healthy person’s blood pressure may drop to hypotensive levels within an hour of the onset of symptoms. Infected patients may die within three hours if medical treatment is not provided.
- Rabies: A disease spread through bites or licks on broken skin from an infected animal. It is always fatal.
That’s all very well. But four-hundred quid!
If you are considering undertaking a prolonged trip to parts of the world where such nastiness is prevalent, it is advisable to look into getting vaccinations at least three months before you travel, but preferably longer, as some vaccinations require multiple injections and many vaccinations do not protect until 4-6 weeks afterwards. The Hepatitis B vaccination, for example, requires three injections over the course of six months. Though a rapid schedule is available.
The NHS Fit for Travel website also advises that the traveller ensures that he or she is fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation.
For Travel Safety Advice you should visit the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
Enjoy!
