The Yellow Fever Conundrum

After my Dr. visit on Monday. I got two shots. A Hep. A and a Td or Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis). I had a Yellow Fever vaccination in 1982 when I was in the military. So it appears those are good for life. The problem is that I remember getting the shot but I have no proof. I sent off a request for Government records but that could take 90 days. So do I just spend the $140 on a shot I don’t need, or do I just go and hope there is no Yellow Fever outbreak and they let me back in the USA without a Yellow Fever certificate. The guide says we will not be going into any yellow fever areas and that there is no certificate required for travel. So I guess I will save the $140 on the yellow fever shot and go back and get the $135 MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) which I need.

I also have to start a week long Typhoid oral vaccine. I pill every other day for a week. Then I have two more prescriptions to get filled. One is Malarone an oral Malaria medicine and the other is Z-pak (Azithromycin) an antibiotic to be taken in case of severe diarrhea. I hope I don’t need that one.

I also got a two hour lesson on about 6 other mosquito born diseases that there are no vaccines for and no cures. Then there are the food born nasty’s. Don’t drink the water unless it’s bottled or boiled. Don’t eat any raw fruits or vegetables unless you can peel them yourself.

I would like to thank the people at the Tulane University Travel Clinic for educating me and asnwering all my questions. I feel that I have a much better change of not getting sick now.

The adventure begins in 20 days.