andersonbowen.comBLOG

parents in the u.s. stress about all the vaccines for their kids and the potential side effects and do i really need to give my kid all of this? i stress about whether or not my kid’s gotten enough vaccines. polio, pertussis, measles...diseases of a century ago in the u.s., but in africa they’re modern day risks for little ones. on the drive home from dinner tuesday night (our first night out without the kiddo) we listened to bbc world service coverage of the first reported case of polio in uganda since 1996 (uganda was certified polio free in 2006). first thing i did once home? quick online search re polio transmission and double-checked odin’s immunization records to confirm that he’d received the necessary 3 polio vaccines. odin’s risk to exposure?  minimal.  3 polio vaccines?  check.  okay, i can eliminate polio from my list of “to worry about with a baby in africa.”  took him to the doctor friday to get the remaining vaccines from his 6-month check-up that were out of stock last time.  3 hep b vaccines?  check.  bummer is they’re still out of stock on rotavirus.  their order’s in the country but getting held up at customs in entebbe, and they’re the only clinic in uganda who give rota vaccine.  the boy’s gotten 2 out of the 3 for rota, so hopefully the supply will get through customs soon before he misses the window for the third.  phil’s going to check if he could bring a dose with him from europe, only worry is breaking the cold chain. the reality of vaccines is just a little different here, huh.