Vaccinations! For the Philippines? Whoa!

Stick Me, Stab Me, Poke Me!

I came upon a article today which led me to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and got me to thinking. I remember when I was in the Navy, and upon acceptance of my orders to Guam in 1974, I was required to get my military shot card updated - for all those mysterious diseases in the Dragon's Domain I suppose - prior to beginning my travel to the Far East.

And again, when I received orders to the Philippines in 1983, more shots were required. Back then, not only were scare tactics used to convince you to get in the shot line... it was required! I remember when I was stationed at Miramar NAS in San Diego (1977) and we were "required" to participate in the "Swine Flu" vaccine. It happened to be strategically set on a payday, and paychecks were held hostage until you reported to Hangar 1 to receive your shot. That was in the days before direct deposit! I also remember that Flu shot made me sicker than a dog. I felt worse than Keith Richards looks!

President Ford receiving Swine Flu vaccine 1976

Sorry, Not Doing It!

These days shot requirements may be different and I don't really know for certain. So I began looking through other blogs and forums, and little (if any) information is found concerning vaccinations. What about Cholera or Dengue Fever? Malaria? Typhoid? Measles in the Philippines? Diseases can come and go and areas of high risk develop from time to time. I began to wonder if I was at a higher risk because of my age. Are you at risk? Is age even a factor? Take the West Nile Virus in parts of the U.S. lately. These days you just never know.

Anyway, after knocking on the Grim Reaper's door post- Swine Flu shot, I vowed never again to be injected with anything that didn't smell like tequila. While this post is not intended to alarm anyone, the best advice I can give before you begin your travels is to consult with your doctor to determine whether you are at risk of, or susceptible to, any communicable diseases. You may learn that you are a candidate for certain immunizations and vaccinations that apply to your chosen destination.

The best place to start is to visit CDC's website to learn of current and identified disease risks and whether there have been any Travel Notices issued related to where you are going. Here you will find all the information you will need on the topic of Vaccinations. I think you can also visit the U.S. State Department site for travel warnings, which do include disease warnings.

You may be like me and do not desire to be nobody's pin cushion, but then again, sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry! For what it is worth, I'm not getting injected with anything before leaving for the Philippines. But it probably wouldn't hurt to have a Tetanus update!

You can visit the Philippines CDC site HERE.