I'm done with my immunizations for my trip to Rwanda, and I can't help but feel a bit like a human pin cushion after only five shots. My nurse did the best she could when administering the shots, but she confessed that the needle was a bigger caliber than normal as I'm a bigger guy and supposedly it's necessary to get through my skin. Personally, I took it more as a reminder that I'm lucky not to regularly go through that type of crap and should be happy with just the occasional shot for traveling.

The budget, not that there really was one to start with this trip, was busted on my second visit to the doctor's office. I thought everything could be done in one visit, but when I went back to get the final shots on a second day they told me that this wasn't actually covered by my insurance. I was surprised by this and agreed with the nurse who said it was backwards since you'd think it'd be beneficial for the companies to pay for prevention instead of treatment, but it wasn't exactly something I could turn away from as my flight is already booked.

The three shots I got on my first visit were for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Polio. The couple other vaccines that would normally be necessary, like Tetanus, were already handled when I went on my trip to Antarctica. I know most things can't exactly survive down there, but I figured it best to get them anyway as I couldn't remember the last time I had an update. The only immunization for this trip that I declined was the Rabies one as I'd have to get shots if I was infected anyway. Plus, I didn't figure I'd really be in any danger of being bitten while on the road so it wasn't really necessary.

The final two shots that I picked up were for Yellow Fever and Typhoid. The doctor warned me that I'd be feeling a bit sick after these, possibly even leaving work for the day, as they tend to cause problems for most people. Thankfully my issues were pretty minor as I was able to work through the issues of nasea, exhaustion, and the aches and pains of a fever. About the only problem that I really had was that it made me even more moody than normal.

Sorry everyone!

I was also given a prescription to help prevent Malaria. It was the most expensive of the option, but it sounded like the best one based on the possible side effects and other related issues. Like the rest of my immunizations though, I hope that I only experience some minor discomfort with these pills as I have no desire to be dashing into the jungle while on our gorilla tour because diarrhea decides to make a call.

Everything is thankfully all done and I'm ready for the trip to Rwanda - something I still really can't believe is happening. The cost for all the immunizations and medication was much more than I had anticipated as I only expected to donate my insurance co-pay to the medical professionals helping me, but it's not something I'd exactly turn down now either as I've already taken care of so many other preparations; hindsight is 20/20 though as I know for the future to better research immunization costs and necessities before travels abroad.