Stage One vaccinations commenced on Saturday. I thought it was going to be a fifteen minute job, but Dr John Scally (also a well seasoned traveller) takes his WHO job very seriously.
I had a one hour consultation with him during which time he took out his fine toothed comb and researched every Spanish-speaking American country I may possibly visit. To be honest, I thought I'd just walk in and get a jab for yellow fever and then walk out again. But it wasn't so simple.
Dr Scally gave me detailed information about how, where and from what I could contract a nasty series of diseases like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B (both scary), yellow fever (pretty scary), and rabies (very, very scary). He also talked about dengue fever and typhoid... but his description of rabies has so overshadowed everything else that I can't remember anything else he said!
So one hour later I walked out of his surgery having received vaccinations for Hep A and B, yellow fever and rabies. But it doesn't stop there. This coming Saturday I need to return to his clinic to receive the second shot for Hep A and B, the second (of three) shots for rabies, and one for typhoid. During this upcoming session he will also discuss malaria prophylactics and whether or not I should take preventive measures against dengue fever. Oh, and then three weeks later I need to return again for the final rabies shot.
I must admit that a few years ago I developed a slight fear of needles as a result of passing out on the red carpet (literally) at Melbourne Town Hall after being innoculated for MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella). So I was feeling a little nervous as Dr Scally waved his needles around. To combat the feeling of faintness I focussed my eyes on his framed Camino de Santiago memorabilia, a few Hail Mary's and called upon Mary McKillop to prevent me from passing out. Dr Scally has a pretty gentle touch so I didn't really feel anything at all... until a few days later when I felt that my arms had gone through a few rounds with Kostya Tszyu.
So far, this exercise in innoculation has set me back AU$310.90: $111.90 for the hour long consultation, $95 for the first rabies shot, $45 for yellow fever and $59 for the combined Hep A and Hep B shot. Of all these vaccinations, the only one that is absolutely compulsory (if travelling to Colombia and Ecuador) is yellow fever. Australia is home to the same mosquito that carries the yellow fever virus, hence Australian Quarantine's severe warnings about ensuring all travellers to yellow fever areas are duly vaccinated and obtain a "yellow fever" card (which, also happens to be yellow).
