Okay, so I have been doing some research and asking my traveling friends for vaccination info... and I am thinking that these are the shots I will need:
Typhoid
Hepatitis A
Diphtheria
Tuberculosis
Hepatitis B
Yellow Fever
Meningococcal meningitis
And possibly Rabies, Malaria pills and Traveler's Diarrhea pills.
Now, my question is-- who out there knows where I can go for these, I've made an appointment with my primary care doctor but I have the feeling that she will not be able to vaccinate me for all of this.. so who can tell me how you get them and what it costs out of pocket, as I am doubtful my HMO will pay for them.
5 comments:
I'm sure it will be very different for me, in Canada, but I will share my experiences. Most things here are covered by my OHIP, except for travel vaccinations, so I had to pay (which was weird!) My doctor does not do it, I had to look up the number for a travel clinic. It cost $80 for the appt., and $305 for my 3 vaccinations (typhoid, meningitis, and yellow fever). The only other thing I know for sure is that when you get yellow fever, you will get a little card confirming that you got it, and you must carry this when travelling to Ethiopia (I think, with Americans,you also need to send it in to get your visa).
i know my when my dad was practicing he could do the basics, but things such as malyaria and the others, your best bet is to call ahead and call you your hmo to see if they are covered. I know i had to call my carrier and went to the hospital for my vaccinations when i went overseas
Saw your link on Nikki's post... go to an infectious disease clinic. They often double as a travel clinic. Most of these will not be covered by insurance. Yellow fever and rabies will be the worst ones. Don't get rabies unless you really need it. The cholera vaccine is hardly effective and has a higher chance of making you sick. Some docs will stamp your yellow card without giving it to you, if you have to get it just know that it may have side effects. Nothing too bad. Good luck with your trip! Hope you fall in love with Africa! :)
I have obviously not been keeping up very well here, but just to let you know, I didn't pay a penny out of pocket for my vaccinations (except possibly a copayment or two at my doctor's office, that I don't remember). And I got some of my shots at a travel clinic associated with a pretty small hospital in Framingham, MA an a couple more at my primary care doctor here in GA. If your doc doesn't give any of the shots you need, she will be able to tell you where a travel clinic is.
:-)
Marianne
Oh and as I think I have told you previously, get the yellow fever vaccine if you are so inclined, but I've talked to many Americans who have visited Ethiopia (at least 10 people), some of whom had gotten vaccinated and some not, and none were ever asked for proof of the vaccination. In my three ridiculous visits to the Addis Ababa Immigration Building to get my visa renewed, no one ever mentioned it either.
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