Today was our first consultation at the travel clinic. Three hours and 100+ page review later, we walked out with 15 shots, 2 blood tests, and prescriptions galore amongst all five of us. I don't know what was scarier...learning about the risk of contracting Yellow Fever or the CDC's warnings of the risks of "severe" side effects of the Yellow Fever vaccine:

Severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component (about 1 person in 55,000).
Severe nervous system reaction (about 1 person in 125,000).
Life-threatening severe illness with organ failure (about 1 person in 250,000). More than half the people who suffer this side effect die.

Luckily (or unluckily) we did not have to make this decision the spot because apparently Yellow Fever vaccines are extremely difficult to get. The one US manufacturer that made this vaccination could not meet the demand so now select travel clinics and health departments carry the European version. That said, because Zayan and I (in particular) are considered delicacies among our mosquito friends, we are likely getting this protection.

Some of the vaccines we received included, polio, Meningitis, Typhoid Fever, and MMR and VZV (for Kapil and me). Kapil and I were screened for Hepatitis A/B and will likely need more doses of our live vaccines. We also calculated the need for about 151 malaria tablets per person and PRN meds for altitude sickness, motion sickness, traveler's diarrhea, and antibiotics. We have a long list of over the counter medications to take with us and still need to explore the need for vaccines to protect against Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis!

The kids began to talk amongst themselves about the possible side effects of the vaccines against the greater risk of "dying" from these illnesses. I felt horrible that they were even having those conversations and yet, they remained motivated and enthusiastic about the trip...that is, all of them except Kenza. Not only is she sad to leave her friends and scared of travel, she was terrified to get her two shots. We bribed her with a slime-making-kit and a "job shadow day with Mommy" to get it done. #it'sgettingreal