So apparently traveling to South America is not for the weak. The topic - IMMUNIZATIONS. If you’ve never traveled to an area that requires immunizations, here are my words of advice:
1. Make an appointment at a Travel Clinic at least a month in advance. In the Twin Cities area, there are several. I have been to two of them recently (read on for that account) and I recommend that HealthPartners Specialized Medicine (Travel Clinic) in St. Paul. Great facility.
2. Do your research. Browse the internet for what to expect. The Center for Disease Control is a good website to visit. But be prepared that the Travel Clinic will obviously have the best information and will advise you accordingly.
3. Take care of yourself! You cannot get vaccines if you are running a fever. And, learn from my mistake, do not get vaccinations when you are recovering from a cold.
4. Allow for plenty of rest after you receive these. At times you may have to receive several vaccines in one visit - you need to allow yourself to rest up after.
So, on with my story. Going to South America is not for the weak. The immunizations that I required were: Typhoid, Hepatits A, Tetanus, and Yellow Fever. Thankfully, I will not require malaria pills (although I will possibly be going to Igazu Falls, it is a tourist area and has been sprayed to prevent malaria mosquitoes). I received three vaccines on Friday (my first visit) - Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Tetanus. I then woke up Saturday morning and was completely sick…no energy and was borderline delirious (i.e. I did the laundry but forgot the laundry detergent and couldn’t remember starting the washer). All day I could barely get out of bed.
Monday, I returned to the clinic to find out that my left arm (tetanus shot) was infected and that’s what caused the reaction. Apparently they swab with alcohol for a reason. Still no fever, so I was allowed to get the Yellow Fever vaccine. This is an active vaccine and apparently can make you sick (flu-like symptoms) for 1-14 days after you receive it. So, that being said…we’ll see where that goes. That would take me up to my departure for Uruguay so I’m hoping to put up a fight!
Posted on September 10th, 2007 by katiejocannon
Filed under: Health, Travel
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