Went for my appointment at Curzon Road Medical Practice to
discuss becoming a human pin cushion in the near future. The nurse was great,
but made things sounds a little scarier than I’ve been used to when I told her
we didn’t know where exactly we were going in Asia (or when) – don’t you just
work on the basis that India is the worst place in the world for diseases and
if you’re covered for the sub-continent you’re covered for anywhere??? Apparently
not.
Hepatitis A? Check. Hepatitis B? Check. It costs money to
get them separately, but if you do them combined on the NHS they’re free – how
peculiar is that? But I ain’t complaining! Diptheria-Polia-Tetanus? Check.
That’s free as well, and I believe my last booster was when I was about three
or four years old. Kind of overdue, I guess! Glad I haven’t been bitten by any
crazy farm dogs. And speaking of dog bites, you can’t get a rabies jab done on
the NHS and the nurse quoted me £158 from a private clinic!!! Do they use
diamond-encrusted syringes or something?!! But it’s not compulsory to be jabbed
for rabies, though it is “advisable”…ooooh, what a decision! I checked my Boots
price list when I got home and saw rabies offered for just under £50 - I jumped
for joy…`til I realised that was the price per injection, and you probably need
about three. I’ll have to think on this one.
I’ve always got to think on malaria, which I admit I have
underestimated. The nurse has given me plenty of source material and she wants
me to read up on this wonderful tropical disease and assess my options
regarding what to take. I just love homework at the best of times, let alone
when I’m studying possible ways to die at the hands (or teeth) of buzzing blood-sucking
parasites! There are several tablets I can take, but as expected the ones with
least side effects that need to be taken less often naturally cost more. Why
can’t everything be available for
free on the NHS???
Nursey was up for jabbing me with the free shots there and
then, but I wussed out, preferring to have some build-up time in which to
psyche myself up. Plus I was starving and didn’t fancy keeling over on the
surgery floor, given how I always feel feint after having a blood test. I’ll
see her again in two weeks time when she’ll let me know if I need extra goodies
taking care of, such as yellow fever and cholera.
I tell you, talking vaccinations doesn’t half put me off my
food! For all of
fifteen seconds.
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