Travel Doctor

Shots. Shots and more shots!

Last week we combined a fun Union Soccer Camp in Philadelphia with an appointment to the University of Pennsylvania Travel Clinic in Radnor, PA.  This is the same location we visited almost six years ago before traveling to Ethiopia to meet and bring Mabret home.  At 2.10 years old Roman was the first to jump up on the table and say "give me the shots","I'm ready to go get my brother."

This time most of us were able to skip some shots as we had them already but with more countries on the itinerary, more shots were necessary. And when in doubt, we always opted for more vaccinations (taking into consideration any potential side effects) and didn't worry about the cost. Better safe than sorry is our motto!

In total we all received vaccinations for the following:

Yellow Fever (only Mabret, ours from 2007 are good for 10 yrs)

Typhoid

Rabies ( total of three shots for Mabret, but only boosters for us due to a bat in the house when Roman was an infant)

Meningitis 

Tetanus 

Japanese Encephalitis (2 shots for each)

Flu shot

We also discussed extensively which malaria prevention drug to use and decided on Doxycycline as a family to keep it simple and for the slight benefit it brings to killing some other bad stuff as well.  Katie traveling with us will be on Malarone (the more widely prescribed drug). If one person does not tolerate Doxy she can always switch. 

We also got prescriptions for two different antibiotics which will work best depending on location specifically for Travelers Diarrhea.

My sister Judy (an ID Doctor herself) also kindly put together a great medical kit including all kinds of goodies!!!