Shots, shots and more shots

I knew when we decided to adopt internationally and to travel to pick up our baby that I would have to get a lot of shots. Not an issue, I don't really mind that part. The part that I do mind is the hassle it has been for me to set up appointments to try and start some of these shots.

I need to get Hepatitis A and B shots, so I contacted my Dr.'s office to set up an appointment and they asked me why I needed these shots. I told them that early next year I would be travelling to Africa. At that point they told me I needed to contact the travel clinic. Well, the day we were officially approved back in January, I called the travel clinic and they wanted to know our travel date before setting up an appointment. I explained this to the woman and she said she would get back to me. Several messages later, they agreed to set up an appointment with the float nurse at my Dr.'s office to start the series of Hepatitis shots. They are spread out over a number of months so I want to get them out of the way now. I figure it will be one less thing I will have to worry about.

In talking with the nurse she wanted to make sure that I was still planning on going to the travel clinic before I travel to Ethiopia. I told her, of course. There are more shots that I need that I can get only at a travel clinic (yellow fever) and some others I am considering getting as well such as typhoid and meningitis and polio. I also want to go to the travel clinic to talk about things we can do while in Ethiopia to stay healthy and to ask questions about meds we should bring for our baby in case they are sick.

So for now the drama with the shots appears to be over, I have an appointment with the nurse in a few weeks. Let's hope the rest of the process goes well and that my arm won't hurt too much afterward.