Does anyone know where I can get vaccination shots needed before traveling? Hospital? Doctor's office?

doctor

Kevin...could you provide us a little more information? Where are you from and where are you traveling to? In the US, I know most doctors do not carry many of the vaccines. You can speak with your doctor and he/she can order them. Also, depending on what you need, the local Department of Health office stocks some vaccines and can order others. The hospitals around here do not usually carry this.

I encourage you to speak with your doctor. I have traveled a lot and have found that sometimes vaccines or preventative medicine are recommended, but might not be necessary given the specific location you are going. My doctor helped me to avoid the lovely side effects of the anti-malaria medication. It was "strongly recommended" for where I was going so I made my appointment. My doctor had a house a few miles from where I was headed and laughed. There had not been a reported case of malaria in that area for over 30 years. When I saw the side effects on my traveling companions, I was very happy I went to my doctor instead of the Health Department.

Kevin see this link to the CDC it has links for travel medicine wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/travel-clinics.aspx clinics. Some are international if you are not from the US.

Here are the specifics:

I am from the U.S.
I just started the series of 3 shots for Hep B protection.
I will be in Bonaire when I need to have the second shot.

My prefered source for most travel type vaccines is a travel clinic. Someplace like http://depts.washington.edu/hhpccweb/index.php?ClinicID=11 or https://www.virginiamason.org/home/dept.cfm?id=425

But it seem like your questions might be:
a) Can I delay getting Hep B shot #2 until I return to the US?
b) Is it possible to get shot #2 in Bonaire?
c) If so, where (clinic, hospital, etc.)?
d) What vaccine would they use and does it matter?

Some info partially answering (a) and (d) at:
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HBV/HBVfaq.htm#vaccFAQ

b) and c) are the answers I need.

You cannot delay getting the second shot. If you do you need to start the whole series over again.

"If there is an interruption between doses of hepatitis B vaccine, does the vaccine series need to be restarted?
No, the series does not need to be restarted.

If the vaccine series was interrupted after the first dose, the second dose should be administered as soon as possible.
The second and third doses should be separated by an interval of at least 8 weeks.
If only the third dose is delayed, it should be administered as soon as possible. "

With all due respect David (and without getting into my personal medical history) I just need an answer to where on Bonaire I can get the shot.

I understand what the website says and I appreciate your attempts to help. I don't need to debate other issues. Just need to find the place I can get the shot.

Thanks

Kevin, I would suggest you start with the hospital on Bonaire and then they can refer you to the correct physician if need be. Do not delay on this because you want to ensure that the vaccine is there and available and that you have everything you need in order to obtain it. Remember, things move on island time, so start your inquiry early.

Kevin-first, call the Botica (drug store) here to see if this is a vaccine they have in stock or can order (there's a list of approved drugs they order from: not on that list = not here, n/a). Vaccines are not covered by insurance here (preventative), so it's possible they won't have it, or won't be able to order it. If they do have it, the procedure is that you purchase it there, then take it to a local doctor for him to administer. Speak to Joan or Rosemary at Botica Bonaire: 011-599-717-8905. You may want to fax them a summary of your situation/needs first, then follow-up with a phone-call: fax 011-599-717-8063. If it were me, I'd try to get the vaccine in the US & bring it down with me, then call Dr. van der Vaart's office, 717-7140.

Thank you Tribs and Ruth. That's the information I needed.

Kevin:

There was no intent on my part to take a jab at you.

With all due respect, your reply seemed snippy to me. That seemed uncalled for as everyone (including me) who posted was simply trying to help.

FWIW, the fact that you posted first person thoughts in the third person is what threw me off.

"You cannot delay getting the second shot" has a different meaning to me than "I cannot delay getting the second shot".

In one case, you are speaking broadly of what applies to a group while in the other case you are speaking to the specifics of your own circumstance. If you had used "I" rather than "you" I would not have posted from the CDC site.

I didn't intend for it to sound snippy David, just matter-of-fact. I did write, "I appreciate your attempts to help."

Sometimes it's difficult to interpret the "tone" of text or email. I understand your confusion over my pronoun usage.

For those who are interested...
Brought the vaccine with me from the U.S. Went to Centro Medico to have a nurse administer the shot. Cost was $10 US or 17.50 Naf.

No problems.