Okay, I am going to Costa Rica in a few weeks so there have been a few things to figure out lately. However, one that I had not thought of was vaccinations. While Pennsylvania (my home state) requires no vaccinations, the health department strongly suggests it. My mother being overactive as always scheduled an appoint just in time for those shots that you need to get a few weeks prior to traveling. So yesterday, I sat in a small-overcrowded waiting room for an hour waiting for my chance for the doctor to stab me with a couple of shots. Yes, I mean stab me because they have to get so many people in and out in a day that they do not care about being gentle just sterile and fast. However, it had me wondering, why does the health department put so much recommendation on a traveler getting shots when the state does not even mention it? Other than, to say they are unimportant obviously.
Shouldn’t the health department be in harmony with the state laws? Why would their suggestions differ so much? While I am the only person of my traveling party to get shots for travel outside of the country, I am not sure how I feel about them. Sure, they can protect you against diseases you may face outside of the country but are they necessary. Should there be a constant standard among states and health departments for their regulations on traveler’s shots? If anyone has had any traveling experience going outside of the country did you ever get shots before leaving? Did you ever feel the need to get them? What are your personal feelings about getting vaccinations before leaving the country? I am not sure if this is even very controversial or where I stand on the subject but do you. Do you have any opinions as to why it is better or not to get shots? Do we even know that they will protect you against the most extreme elements of your journey? Yes, they will protect you against some of the general dangers of traveling but what if you are exposed directly to some virus or disease will they be strong enough to protect you then?
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Getting vaccinated is always the best thing to do if it's recommended by the health department. When I went to Africa, I took malaria pills because I didn't want to get malaria. I don't think there was a law saying that I had to. Even for things that are unlikely, it's always better to error on the side of caution.
Definitely get your shots! I would rather be safe than sorry. I am not sure what the risks are percentage-wise, but I would rather be overly cautious than get sick. Since different types of bacteria survive better in different climates, what the people of Costa Rica have been able to build a resistance to since birth can affect you VERY differently.
However, it had me wondering, why does the health department put so much recommendation on a traveler getting shots when the state does not even mention it? Other than, to say they are unimportant obviously.
The health department puts so much recommendation on a traveler getting vaccines so they don't get any diseases. The state doesn't mention it because when you leave the country you become an ambassador. It's a federal thing, not a state thing. Plus such vaccines are usually for viruses that have long been nullified in this nation. Hence the state wouldn't put emphasis on it, because the state doesn't care because you're leaving the country.
+mspin
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/weezyf
So yesterday, I sat in a small-overcrowded waiting room for an hour waiting for my chance for the doctor to stab me with a couple of shots. Yes, I mean stab me because they have to get so many people in and out in a day that they do not care about being gentle just sterile and fast.
I think they "stab" because, in general, putting a needle in slow and gently (like with starting an IV) tends to hurt more.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sawaboof
"...There is a crushing guilt that comes with being a Catholic. Whether things are good or bad or you're simply... eating tacos in the park, there is always the crushing guilt."
-30 Rock-