Labies and may-lalala

Yesterday I got some rabies and Japanese Encephalitis.

The vaccines themselves are much nicer than the diseases I reckon. Do not be concerned. ;)

I'd researched getting these in the states and the series of rabies and Japanese Encephalitis would have cost me about $280 a shot, and I needed 3 rabies in a series.

I went to the Thai Institute for tropical diseases and, gloriously, for about $20 I got my shots (plus a $2 doctor's fee). Let me tell you about the experience. It's the every-day navigations like this that I find so fascinating in other cultures: in some ways a better window into a world than hopping aboard a tour-bus.

So Buddy Lissy and I hoofed off across the city, walking along tree-lined streets, threading through tiny alleys, dodging motor bikes, crossing train tracks, passing papaya and mango vendors. We arrived at the clinic (a new shiny tall building) and tiny nurses in crisp uniforms and statuesque white caps printed me a little "hospital card", laminated, with my name. (why?) We waited briefly in a set of tidy chairs, and then were shown into a doctor's room. Mr. Doctor spoke excellent English, with an almost in-traversable accent though, and I was so grateful to be able to consult with someone locally, in my language, about the true risks of malaria, rabies, and other such exciting tropical novelties.

Mr. Doctor patiently explained about may-lalala and mosquitoes; the risk is actually quite low here, unlike other may-lalala prevalent areas like Africa. He counseled we should be more worried about Japanese Encephalitis, because unlike may-lalala, it is untreatable, and you will die a tortured death.

Then we all hopped our hands on our arms, miming dog bites, and discussed labies. With a three shot series, you only need two booster shots if you are bitten. And this is protection for life. Mr. Doctor considered the risk of labies low, but I decided to get the series regardless, because I could do it for about $30 bucks, instead of $850 in the states. Strike while the vaccines are cheap, as they say. They gave me a little paper booklet, with the dates for the next vaccines in the series and the brand of the vaccine: easy to show to the next Thai hospital 7 days from now.

Then I was sent down to the cashier, where I paid, and then to the stock counter, where I was given 2 vials which I carried back up to the doctors. A lovely nurse gently stabbed me up, and I was on my way.