Juiced

In late 1996, a couple of months before DW and I packed up our lives and headed to South Korea, where we would be living for the next two years, we met with a travel-medicine practitioner to ensure that we were inoculated against any disease that could come our way. And while there were no mandates to have any shots for this East-Asian peninsula, we were planning to travel all over this region of the world.

Image: ChatGPT

And better safe than sorry.

We received shots against hepatitis, typhoid, and other diseases (I've since forgotten and have misplaced that immunization record). We were also given vials for yellow fever, to keep refrigerated and to have administered if we decided to go to countries like India, Cambodia, or Vietnam.

Unfortunately, the vials didn't stay refrigerated long enough for the long flight, so we had to dispose of them. Fortunately, we didn't go anywhere that such an inoculation was required.

Still, money down the drain.

For our upcoming trip, which is only a week away, we found ourself at another consultation for immunization shots. This time, we didn't go to a specialist and this time, many of the vaccines were covered under either mine or DW's health plans (we were out of pocket in the late 90s).

While none of the vaccines are required for entry into the country we'll be visiting, many are recommended and, just as in 1996, it's better to be safe than sorry.

We've rolled up our sleeves and popped pills. So far, we've received shots for Hep A and yellow fever, and we've been taking pills for typhoid (four capsules that are taken once every two days: our last pill was taken yesterday).

We also have tablets that we'll start taking, next Friday, when we arrive in the country. And over the following couple of days, we'll take more. They're meant to help relieve altitude sickness. And, we'll have anti-malarial pills as well, which we'll carry on us just in case.

So, in a word, we're juiced. We're taking preventative steps and are carrying treatments for unknown possibilities.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. We want to enjoy every moment of it.

So, where are we going? I'll let you know, next week, when we're en route.

Stay tuned.