Getting Vaccinated for Travel

Rodriguez's syringe-wielding nurse featured on the poster for Planet Terror.

"Okay, this is your last one and," quietly, "it's going to burn a little bit more than the other two."

One of the things I crossed off my list today was getting vaccinations from Travel Clinic. I filled out a form, had a chat with a doctor, and before I knew it I was having my arm swiped and poked by a rather charming lady. I figure she must be pretty good at her job—keeping people (relatively) calm as they receive their injections.

She was a sharp contrast to the syringe-wielding nurse from Planet Terror, a movie which drew a lot of laughter last night. As Rodriguez's attractive-yet-frightening character violently stabbed her patient with her own triad of needles I cringed, realizing I had an appointment to do just that the next day.

I had injections for Tetanus, Diptheria, Polio, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella—some of them boosters and all of them combined in one cocktail or another. But that's not all I got. The clinic also gave me information on health considerations while traveling. Probably the resource that'll benefit me the most is IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers.

A shot of me showing off my little injection bandaids. Sissy.

In a total fluke, I had actually signed up on their site as a member around the same time that I booked the appointment for my vaccine. The clinic gave me their booklet which includes maps which show the areas affected by Malaria or Yellow Fever. One of the major services provided by IAMAT is their world directory. If you're traveling, definitely check them out (and donate!), especially if you're going outside of Europe.