| Cycle Touring Health & Medical Issues |
At the office of our local travel medical doctor we
were sitting ducks. The doctor could see in our
wide-eyed, childlike demeanor that we knew very
little about the vaccinations we needed for our
upcoming journey.
Trained from birth to trust people in white coats with
stethoscopes draped over their shoulder (why did
he need a stethoscope!?) we got every shot he
suggested in his prudent, fatherly way. Well, not
every shot. Amanda refused the rabies vaccination
and she was twice bitten by monkeys while
traveling. Hah.
When we got the bill for his services we needed
that stethoscope. It was over $2000.
Two years later we found a travel clinic in South
Africa, far more sleek and professional than the
strip-mall clinic in San Diego, that would have
offered the same services plus malaria
medications for under $250. We could have flown
to South Africa with the savings.
You have the opportunity to learn from our mistake.
Do your research. Determine before visiting the
travel medical doctor which vaccinations you
require. And remember, this is their business.
They are well versed at giving their talk about the
dangers of a particular disease. That's how they
make their money.
The list of required vaccinations changes each day
with outbreaks of a particular disease and with the
release of new vaccines. The Centers for Disease
Control seems to be the place for the most
up-to-date information in English.
were sitting ducks. The doctor could see in our
wide-eyed, childlike demeanor that we knew very
little about the vaccinations we needed for our
upcoming journey.
Trained from birth to trust people in white coats with
stethoscopes draped over their shoulder (why did
he need a stethoscope!?) we got every shot he
suggested in his prudent, fatherly way. Well, not
every shot. Amanda refused the rabies vaccination
and she was twice bitten by monkeys while
traveling. Hah.
When we got the bill for his services we needed
that stethoscope. It was over $2000.
Two years later we found a travel clinic in South
Africa, far more sleek and professional than the
strip-mall clinic in San Diego, that would have
offered the same services plus malaria
medications for under $250. We could have flown
to South Africa with the savings.
You have the opportunity to learn from our mistake.
Do your research. Determine before visiting the
travel medical doctor which vaccinations you
require. And remember, this is their business.
They are well versed at giving their talk about the
dangers of a particular disease. That's how they
make their money.
The list of required vaccinations changes each day
with outbreaks of a particular disease and with the
release of new vaccines. The Centers for Disease
Control seems to be the place for the most
up-to-date information in English.
| Cycle Touring Health | Vaccinations |
