Handy Tricks: World Traveler Edition

Step 2 Vaccinations: How to Save Money with the CDC

Lots of travel clinics require a huge (4-6 week) lead time, just to see you for an "evaluation meeting".

As far as I can tell, an evaluation is where you pay to meet a doctor, say what country you're going to, and the doctor checks the CDC's recommendations on what vaccinations you need.

Then, you make appointments to get those vaccines.

If you need a Yellow Fever vaccine, good luck - pharmaceutical company-instgated shortages mean that there are only ten YF vaccines doled out to each hospital, and many don't carry it at all.

I didn't have four weeks between booking my flight and flight-date, so I just skipped vaccines. They were all listed as optional by the CDC, and I'm fine.

Plus, most countries have medicine for dealing with whatever you might come across in their land.

This is especially true in Brazil, a country that, by government sanction, violates pharma-copyright, and makes their own generics if the real thing is too expensive. This makes a lot of sense. Public health is at stake!

If you do have four weeks to get vaccines, you can skip the evaluation meeting by going to the CDC's website yourself. Then, just make appointments for the specific vaccine you need.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationList.aspx

Comments

[domenicab]

Passport health is a pretty decent place to get them if you want them. I called them and gave my list of countries over the phone - as opposed to having a consult. When I came in for the appointment they had put together a few info sheets detailing their recommendations based on my destinations. We reviewed it, then I was given the shots I requested. It was pricey because they did not take my insurance, but it was quick and simple. They also provided me a small booklet documenting the shots and dates, it easily fits in my passport folder. While I agree that you can receive health care locally, I personally recommend at least updating your tetanus shot. Also there are still areas of the world where polio and typhoid are health concerns. Know before you go! And take it from someone who had to go to a hospital in a random city in China, health care in other countries is vastly different from here at home...be prepared for that.

[haptotrope]

Make sure that your vaccine is one dose -- not a set dosage schedule for immunity. Some of the Hep vaccines are 3 doses over a period of time.

[nireves]

You can also get alot of what you need at the place you are going...or at an intermediate stop somewhere.  I finished off a number of my vaccine series (the last dose of 3 for example) in Bangkok when I first arrived there for a two month long trip.