The Newmans

Only 1 jab in the arm today for:

• Japanese Encephalitis (2 of 3)

The Japanese Encephalitis is an interesting one. Whilst it’s fairly rare the mortality rate is about 30% and a percentage of survivors wind up with some kind of mental or nervous disability as a result. I guess I see it as one of those sorts of things that is unlikely to be caught but given the consequences it’s worth immunisation against. Apparently Shenzhen is one of the most common areas for the disease. The disease is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, not the dawn and dusk kind that are most common in Australia but the “out all day” type mosquitoes. I shall have the mozzie radar on.

Second round of jabs today. Only 2 shots this time, which is good because I can have them all in the same arm. I spread the last lot out over both arms and the result was that both my arms felt weak for a day or two.

• Hepatitis B (2 of 3)
• Japanese Encephalitis (1 of 3)

Apparently the Japanese Encephalitis immunisations have a reaction with about 10% of all people that take it. That reaction results in an unbearably itchy red rash on the skin. This rash occurs about 7-10 days after having the injection. To deal with this we were each given 2 Phenergan (antihistamine) tablets to use in case of a reaction.