The Prologue part 1 or Jabs, jabs and more jabs

Before I can head off on my travels, there is the preparation. Or in my case the lack of preparation. it seems that to travel it is best to get a few vaccinations. Some are obligatory and some are advised. I though to myself no problem. A few jabs and it will be fine. As I unfortunately discovered, it was not a few jabs. I was recommended to go to the Institute Pasteur here in Paris. They have a service for travel vaccination. I was told this at the beginning of July, to get there early as there is a huge queue and they shut at 11. I made it there at the beginning of August - eh it is hard to get up first thing on a Saturday morning - and queued for 2 hrs to see the doctor. Based on my itinerary they advise me on what vaccines I needed to have. And it was a few. They are Rabies, Hepatitis A and B, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Diptheria Tetanus Poliomyelitis (DTP) and Pertussis. Unfortunately it not just one Jab for each of them. This was the following course

Rabies x 3
Hep B x 3
Yellow Fever x 1
Thyphoid+Hep A x1
DTP x 2
Pertussis x 1

At one point, my left elbow grew a extra muscle. While watching TV one night, I notice out the corner of my left eye how muscular my left arm has become. I thought wow all that sitting around does make you fit. Then I realised that it did not match my right arm. Uhmm, me thinks a bit swollen.

Its does not end there! Lets talk Malaria (Paludism)! I had to make an appoint to discuss the risk of catching malaria with the consultant at the centre. Lets put it this way, after the meeting, I just wanted to go and hide in my flat. The problem is not that they scared me with the risk that I will get malaria, more that they scared me with the lack of a clear advise. They sat on the fence! They left it up to me if I wanted to take the anti malaria tablets or not. They just informed me what the regions are at risk, what protection to take against mosquitoes bite and then said it is up to you. I was no more clear after the meeting than before.

Never the less I decided that I would not lock myself in my flat and would indeed head towards London next week...

Ciao for now. Later today, the Doctors for my last jab (DTP n°2).