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Planning Part 2: Needles
December 2000
(I know we appear to have gone back in time, but this time
warp is only temporary) This month, I
tried to arrange an appointment with my local health centre so
that I could sort out my immunisations. They told me it was too
early, and that I should come back about 4 weeks before I was
due to go. Hmm.
April 2001
After doing more reading on the subject of immunisations, I
found out that some of them take a period of months to
administer, such as Hepatitis A. So I repeat the long, arduous
journey down the high street and tried to make another
appointment. No luck. Come back again 4 week before you're due
to go. Hmm. Growl.
June 2001
Emily made an appointment with her health centre. They gave her
loads of information about what injections to take and tell her
that as some of them take a few months to administer, she should
start having them next month. Hmm. Growl.
Early July 2001
Emily receives her first Hep A and Typhoid jabs. I try to make
another appointment with my health centre. "Actually,
Mr. Hooks, its too early now, come back 4 weeks...".
Hmm. Growl. Arrrggghhh! I'm getting annoyed!
Mid July 2001.
I demand an appointment with my health centre and I am finally
given one. No growls this time. They tell me that it is getting
a bit late and I really should have contacted them earlier.
(Excuse while I go outside and bang my head against the exterior
supporting surface of a building)
Early August 2001
I finally get my first Hep A and Hep B jabs, with a timetable
for the administering of the other injections. Looks like the
next few months will be fun. Sore arms, funny tummies and paying
out lots of money. A word of warning, most immunisations cost.
Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis cost about £100 each. So make
sure you budget for them, or, like us, you're in for two
nasty shocks instead of one.
The moral of this section is:
A course of immunisations can take months, but not everyone
(including nurses) realises this. You might need to push to get
your injections started as early as you'll need.
Next Diary Entry >>
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To know the road ahead, ask those coming back
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