The CDC

One of the pieces of information I received prior to starting my journey to South Africa was a website set up by the Center for Disease Control (The CDC) for travelers. I looked up the website and found out about the immunizations that I need for the trip. Then I called to schedule a routine yearly physical. I haven’t been to see the doc for a yearly physical in about 18 months, so I thought it would be a good time to both get a physical and get a booster immunization shot.

One immunization that is recommended that is not part of the regular booster routine is for typhoid. Typhoid is a water borne disease that was devastating to central water systems in the later 19^th and early 20^th century. Until the doctors figured out it was the water system that was spreading typhoid, it hit urban areas very hard. Once they figure out what was going on, the chlorination of water was utilized effectively to stop the spread of typhoid in the water systems. However, it can be a problem is some countries and thus the recommendation to use the typhoid vaccine.

I figured that typhoid was one vaccine that probably wouldn’t be at the regular doctor’s office, so I headed down to the City County Health Center to pick up the vaccine. It cost me $72 for 4 pills that I have to take every other day. That should make the vaccine effective by the time I leave and for 5 years after.

I thought the nurse that gave me the medicine looked familiar and when I read her name tag, it dawned on me that she was in the production of Doubt at Billings Studio Theatre. We visited for a little while about the show and I recommended that she audition for A Flea in Her Ear this coming season. Then I headed back to work with the air conditioner turned way up because my vaccine needed to be refrigerated and it was quite warm out today.

I’ve tried calling the nurse at the doctor’s office where my physical is scheduled, but she wasn’t in today. I wanted to know if I could get my other shots I needed at that office or if I needed to go back down to the City County Health Department to have the shots. When I did get a hold of the nurse, she told me they did have the booster shot I needed and could give me the Hepatitis shot I wanted. I am scheduled to get the booster and first shot right before I leave.

I did a little more check at the CDC website and I probably should have had my shots for the trip to Europe last summer. I turned out OK, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I will be a little more prepared this time around.

If you want to catch up on my trip to Europe last summer, I posted a link on the right side of the website.