I have been considering getting immunizations for such things as tetanus, cholera, typhoid, etc (like what one gets when going to a third world country). I think a tetanus booster is a good idea if we are all working more with our hands and in the dirt. Cholera is also not a bad idea. However, I am still debating. What do you think? I would be interested to hear what you have say.

-- Morrighan (Matotipi@worldpath.net), May 26, 1999

Answers

I think it's a great idea. I travel quite a bit and have gotten shots at the local health department when my doctor refused to help. We sometimes travel at the drop of a hat (phone call at 3:30 - on the plane at 5:30). I wanted all the immunizations I could get. Start now. Some of them need a series of shots over a few months. Disclaimer - talk to your doctor.

-- sally strackbein (sally@y2kkitchen.com), May 26, 1999.

Me too. Me too. Thanks for the great idea, hadn't thought of this angle at all. Sanatation as we presently know it may be a problem. Again, the disclaimer, check with your doctor. But, what's to lose?

-- Richard Westerlind (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), May 26, 1999.

A couple of points, if you please...

• Don't get more than 1 vaccine type (shot) at a time. Playing around with your immune system is tricky. Give 2-4 weeks between shots (the longer the better).
• Older folks (adults and older) may need more than 1 shot to be immunized. Just because you get a shot does not mean it "took". To be sure, you have to have blood-tests to check for anti-bodies.
• Don't get any vaccines you don't need. In deciding what vaccines are "safe" for people, public health folks look at the risk/benefits ratio. If you don't need the benefit, it is not worth the risk.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), May 26, 1999.

If you plan to do any medic stuff for other people, you should get Hepatitis B shots. Hep B is very tenacious, infected blood two days old can transmit it. If you have not had German Measeles, or the shot, you may want to have it to protect other people, and in specific, pregnant women.

I got my tetanus updated a couple of months ago and was glad of it yesterday while shoveling horse manure out of a friend's stall for my garden.

When I was a kid I had cholera, typhus, typhoid, smallpox, and bubonic plague shots: anyone know how long they last and if I need boosters? I think the smallpox was good for life, but not sure about the others. (Smallpox is supposed to be eradicated except for the small live cultures held by the US and Russia in case of biological war or endemic resurgence.)

Thanks!

-- seraphima (seraphima@aol.com), May 26, 1999.

I had an opportunity to acquire some drugs over the weekend (readily available over the counter in Tijuana), assuming I could figure out what I wanted. I was thinking in particular what might be an issue regarding sanitation. The list is long, and the solutions can be quite different and contraindicated. (My concern is primarily my parents who would be far more susceptible to both the disease and reactions to the meds.)

In addition to the ones mentioned by others above, there is amoebic dysentery, bacterial dysentery, salmonella, shigella... I was faced with the problem that even though I might guess right about what meds to obtain, I probably wouldn't be equipped to figure out what the problem was. Of course, immunizations would take care of some of those issues, but it strikes me that they should be no substitute for basic hygiene.

At this point, my solutions are quarantine (avoid the shelters, look after my own in my own home), rehydration fluids, basic antibiotics (still a problem of which to use and how much), flea bombs, general good health (high tolerance), and scrupulous cleanliness (based on lots of water, bleach, and the means to thoroughly cook food and boil water). I figure I won't be exposed to a whole lot more, so it will be an issue of curtailing slovenliness.

Having mostly dodged your question so far, Morrighan, I think the issue would be differentiating between those pathogens that are ubiquitous (e.g., tetanus) and those that would require specific exposure such as might happen at a shelter. Does anyone know how those two groups might break down?

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), May 26, 1999.

In group conditions look also at method of infection. Pneumovax is good for some pneumonias, transmitted by sneezing. Likewise flu, especially for the elderly. However, my finding in Lent when we are eating a vegan diet and are at the end of winter is that my immunity goes way down....so may get a flu shot this fall. Always got one when I was in the Fire Dept. so I wouldn't kill the older folks I was supposed to be rescuing.

re Hygeine, I have stocked babywipes. We lived in our pop-up for 2 1/2 months last summer with no water, and they really helped then. Lice medicine if you are going to live with a lot of kids.

Also consider flea meds and diatomaceous earth (on animal bedding, carpets etc.) for animals.

Last but NOT LEAST; get your pets immunized at one of those low cost parking lot clinics, especially rabies. YOU don't want to get rabies.

-- seraphima (seraphima@aol.com), May 26, 1999.

Just had this discussion last weekend with a GI friend who is a Special Forces medic and will be graduating from med school soon. His considered recommendations:

Tetanus (booster if needed)

Typhoid (oral version of vaccine good for 5 years)

Hep A and Hep B

Pneumovax and annual flu shot(for geriatrics)

Do talk to your own physician- your needs may vary.

-- Lee (lplapin@hotmail.com), May 26, 1999.

And if we really get TEOWAKI how about all the old diseases that were around when I was a little kid.??Diptheria, chicken px. whooping cough and croup, TB (now on the rise), the various plagues and polio? We were just talking about this this mornning and here it is on the forum. Staying home is the best thing you can do. And here in Florida its not out of the realm or possibility to have Yellow fever, malaria, dengue, etc. If you live in the Gulf States look to your screens and have a roll of it for patching. With no air conditioning, you will want windows open.

Got gallons and gallons of OFF?

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), May 26, 1999.

If you are thinking about asking your doctor for a hepatitis b shot, you might want to read this article first:

"Opposition to Hepatitis B Vaccine Mounts," at:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_exnews/19990519_xex_opposition_t. shtml

-- LP (soldog@hotmail.com), May 26, 1999.

Don't forget Lyme Disease vaccination if you live in the part of the U.S. that has to worry about it. As I am in Minnesota, it is a definite for my family. Also, there is an article on smallpox on my website for anyone who is interested in it.

site: www.y2ksafeminnesota.com OR http://y2ksafeminnesota.hypermartnet

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), May 26, 1999.

I had a friend who worked for the Peace Corps. When he travelled, he alsways prepared by eating yogurt. Apparently, it helps avoid dissentary. Anyone else hear of this?

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), May 27, 1999.