You guys remember a few weeks ago when we went to the University of Washington Travel Clinic and got all those shots? Well, it is almost time to go back for round 2 (Hepatitis A and B boosters). And we have to decide soon whether or not we want to get vaccinated for rabies.
Photo by Betsy Talbot
If you recall, the vaccination costs about $900 for 3 shots over the course of 3 months and will give us 7 days to get to medical care after a bite or scratch instead of the 24 hours you get without the vaccine.
My more conservative friends and wondering why we’re even questioning getting this. Other friends wonder why you even need shots at all.
I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and it comes down to more than just money. I think you can over-prepare, and getting obsessive about all the optional precautions is a good way to scare yourself out of taking the trip. Or at least enjoying it as fully as possible.
Last week I was thinking about this as I was walking to lunch, and out of the corner of my eye I saw some movement. I looked closer and saw two fat raccoons darting through the bushes in a yard making their way toward the street. When they noticed the oncoming traffic in the road and me on the sidewalk, they quickly scrambled back up in the yard to safety.
Raccoons! On a busy street in Seattle!
The raccoons kept me in their sights as I walked by, though I did have time to snap a quick photo with my phone.
That’s when it dawned on me that I could get rabies down the street from my own house in the right situation. You really can’t prepare for everything unless you live in a bubble, and I don’t want to live that way.
So I think I’m going to bypass getting the rabies shot. My friend Mimi agrees with me. She said I could let Warren get vaccinated and then push him into the path of any oncoming wild animals during our trip. I mentioned this plan to him and he wasn’t nearly as excited about it as I was. 
What do you think? Can you over prepare for something like this, or should we take every precaution available to us?
About Betsy
I must say, this plan does not have my full support. I am not quite ready to get rabies to prove my undying love for you, my dear. I will however buy a raccoon cap and wear it occasionally to bed to remind you of this post and your decision.
Warren (the husband)
This really cracked me up. Thanks, I needed the laugh today.
My opinion is that I would only get the shots if your lifestyle while traveling is going to be exceedingly adventuresome, with extreme sports in super remote places, etc. Otherwise, if your lifestyle is going to be basically the same- just living, mainly- then as long as people live all the places you’ll be visiting, I say don’t get the shot.
And yes, wild animals live right in the city! In Los Angeles, it’s particularly strange because we’re so near a lot of undeveloped mountains and canyons, so we see coyotes on a regular basis- I saw one about a week ago run across the street in front of my car about two blocks from the Disney studio where I was working. In our yard we often see possum, skunks, and while hiking I have seen a bobcat, several rattlesnakes, deer, and it’s always possible to see a mountain lion, although I haven’t yet.
Betsy, that gave me such a good laugh early on a Saturday morning! Thanks for that.
Warren, very disappointed in your attitude, my friend – as much as I’m sure my husband loves me dearly, I think he would feel the same as you though
Cheers
Judy
Okay, guys. Can you see what I’m dealing with here? First Warren is not being supportive in our efforts to save money. And second, he’s going to go out and buy a NEW raccoon cap when we’re working so hard to downsize.
Not a team player, is he?
Angela and Judy, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m trying to add a little bit of our everyday weirdness into the blog. You guys should be a fly on the wall in here sometimes.
The thing I love so much about Seattle is all the green – it isn’t call the Emerald City for nothing. But all that green means lots of little (and not so little) critters, too. I’ve seen raccoons and possum on a regular basis here and we live in a really well-populated area.
I agree that one can really overprepare for a trip like this. But there is something to be said about getting all the information and then making an informed decision, like you have in this case. I myself am debating the rabies vaccination for my trip. Here, where I live, it is three shots done over a three WEEK period costing upwards of $700. There will always, for me at least, be a struggle between price and worth. The chances of me contracting rabies is very small. I grew up on a farm so it’s not like I will be all “awww! Look at the cute dog with the foaming mouth! Come here puppy!”
I would ask myself whether the cost is the major deterant or whether the low chance of getting rabies is the deterant. In my situation, I am currently on a waiting list with a doctor at the university hospital who does inter-dermal rabies vaccinations. Smaller doses, smaller price. The doctor waits until she has a group of seven people who need the shot(nursing and med students working overseas) or want it(me!). The doses and costs are split among the group. If I can get it that way I will do it. If not, then that just means I need to be extra cautious.
If you are still contemplating the shot, check the university hospital. High chance that they do something similar there but, like here, don’t advertise it(the nurse at the travel clinic referred me). If you opt against it, just remind your husband to make himself look bigger and meaner when confronting a wild animal.
Oh, and don’t bare his teeth. That is just asking for a fight! LOL
Not to make this a serious issue, but for me, this brings up the whole issue of all the vaccines that are required for children. I was at a WA State Senate Health Care commitee meeting last week to testify on a bill. One of the other bills being heard was about vaccines for children in WA State. One of the Nurse Practitioners said that children get 80 vaccines by the time they are 18. A quick check of the internet says around 30 or more. And more coming all the time. And no one knows the long term affect. Makes me think we should all be thinking about doing things in moderation.
Nancy Campbell
Hi Betsy, interesting topic. I really wanted a rabies and Japanese Encephalitis vaccinations, among others. I ended up not getting them because I thought they 1. were too expensive; 2. took too much time to complete the series (I was about to leave at the time); and 3. were fairly unnecessary. You mentioned 24 hours is the timeline for getting help after getting bit by a rabid animal—there are few places on Earth where you would have a tough time finding help in that many hours. I think you made a good call. On the flip side, if you still have plenty of time, and if money were not even a concern, then why not? Ha! How’s that for ambiguity?
Nancy, I agree that we put too much into our bodies without questioning. I rarely even take aspirin (but I do have wine every night, so I can negotiate my standards).
I don’t have kids, but my friends that do all fall on one side or the other of the vaccine debate. I am a believer in getting vaccines for communicable diseases that can kill me.
Brook, we lucked out in that JEV was covered by our insurance, but rabies is not. The main ones I wanted before traveling were Hep A/B, tetanus, and prescriptions for malaria and traveler’s diarrhea. Hell, I didn’t even know what JEV was! So this has been a huge education for me. I’m glad to hear you say there are few places you can’t get the rabies treatment within 24 hours. Mom will be so happy.
Betsy, with travel insurance, most plans also cover emergency flight evacuations…you know, for those countries where you might not want to have major medical work done…
Unless you’re going deep into Africa or the Amazon jungles, you’ll probably always be very close to medical care.
We have traveled to a number of places that it might have taken more than 24 hours to get care for rabies. We had the shots. We were not interested in limiting our experiences because of care. But—I have to add— we were embassy based for most of our travel so the shots were free.
We carried (where it was legal) a clean syringe and needle (kept in a first aide kit away from cooking things). After being caught in remote Thailand with a crazy motorbike accident and having the embassy tell us “DON’T let them give you any shots!!!!” because syringes are often reused… we learned. We have done some crazy “backwoods” things though….
Be ready for a cholera shot on some boarders if you have not had one (and it is a worthless shot).
Don’t forget the imodium. Let the trots run for 24 hours before stopping them up! That and water safety pills saved our tushes(literally) more than once! The embassy said prescription for diarrhea was about the same as over the counter.
Now about running a half marathon….