In one of my previous posts I described my first real visit to University Health Services at the University of Michigan. This appointment had been to get my immunization shots in preparation for the India trip. One of those shots was for Japanese encephalitis, a two-shot series. The first shot I was able to take in the U.S., but because I did it so late, I would have to take the second shot (to be administered 28 days later) in India. This made me a bit nervous, having to use a health care system I wasn’t familiar with, but I guess I didn’t have much of a choice.
This past Monday, May 19th, was 28 days after the first shot. I had asked one the staff members at Be Well to get some help to arrange this, and she was able to refer me to a clinic called Immune Booster. This was a travel clinic that did primarily administered immunization shots and was a place that her friend went to regularly. She also said that it would be 500 Rs (about $8.00 or $9.00), which astounded me after I had to pay for about $200 for the first shot in the series. I trusted all this information and decided to go for it.
Soon after a team meeting, I was supposed to meet with someone to guide me to the clinic. We had meant to leave at 3:40, but it was 3:45 and they hadn’t appeared, so I decided to go find it by myself. I had a map that the staff member had given me, plus my phone, so I was able to find it with pretty much no problem – although I admit I was a bit nervous because it was in a direction that we hadn’t explored yet.
It was a small clinic, and I certainly got some looks when I arrived. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the receptionists were nice and told me where to go and what to do. I was shown into what looked like a doctor’s office. The doctor had been expecting me, and even though I had forgotten the paperwork saying that I had already received the first shot of Japanese encephalitis, I just told her that I had already received the first shot and that I needed the second shot. She asked me when I took the first shot and when I told her, she said that in India they typically administer the second one “1 month” later. I just shrugged and said I was told to get it 28 days later, so she gave it to me anyway.
The shot administration was pretty much the same as in the U.S., but after she withdrew the needle, she covered the injection spot with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, had me hold it, and then said, “All done.” I looked at her expectantly, waiting for a band aid or something, but she just said that I could throw the cotton ball away myself in that trash can over there. Then we both sat down at her desk and she explained the payment process. I was to pay for the shot there and then go to the front desk to collect my certificate. I had to repeat it back to make sure I understood – pay there, like in her office? And then go to the front desk? I ended up paying the 500 Rs to her in cash right then and there at her desk. It felt slightly sketchy, at least compared to the seemingly long and intensive process in the U.S. Ironically, I ended up waiting or an even longer period of time to get the certificate, proof that I received the shot for my own reference.
Overall, a quick, painless, and easy experience. Japanese encephalitis got nothing on me!
-Lan
This past Monday, May 19th, was 28 days after the first shot. I had asked one the staff members at Be Well to get some help to arrange this, and she was able to refer me to a clinic called Immune Booster. This was a travel clinic that did primarily administered immunization shots and was a place that her friend went to regularly. She also said that it would be 500 Rs (about $8.00 or $9.00), which astounded me after I had to pay for about $200 for the first shot in the series. I trusted all this information and decided to go for it.
Soon after a team meeting, I was supposed to meet with someone to guide me to the clinic. We had meant to leave at 3:40, but it was 3:45 and they hadn’t appeared, so I decided to go find it by myself. I had a map that the staff member had given me, plus my phone, so I was able to find it with pretty much no problem – although I admit I was a bit nervous because it was in a direction that we hadn’t explored yet.
It was a small clinic, and I certainly got some looks when I arrived. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the receptionists were nice and told me where to go and what to do. I was shown into what looked like a doctor’s office. The doctor had been expecting me, and even though I had forgotten the paperwork saying that I had already received the first shot of Japanese encephalitis, I just told her that I had already received the first shot and that I needed the second shot. She asked me when I took the first shot and when I told her, she said that in India they typically administer the second one “1 month” later. I just shrugged and said I was told to get it 28 days later, so she gave it to me anyway.
The shot administration was pretty much the same as in the U.S., but after she withdrew the needle, she covered the injection spot with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, had me hold it, and then said, “All done.” I looked at her expectantly, waiting for a band aid or something, but she just said that I could throw the cotton ball away myself in that trash can over there. Then we both sat down at her desk and she explained the payment process. I was to pay for the shot there and then go to the front desk to collect my certificate. I had to repeat it back to make sure I understood – pay there, like in her office? And then go to the front desk? I ended up paying the 500 Rs to her in cash right then and there at her desk. It felt slightly sketchy, at least compared to the seemingly long and intensive process in the U.S. Ironically, I ended up waiting or an even longer period of time to get the certificate, proof that I received the shot for my own reference.
Overall, a quick, painless, and easy experience. Japanese encephalitis got nothing on me!
-Lan