When we had first arrived in Brazil, it was time for AJP’s six year appointment.It was a good incentive to take a to-do off my list when we arrived. I always like to visit a pediatrician right after we move so that if there is some sort of emergency at least there is one person that has some knowledge of my child’s medical history (besides me). I spoke with the nurse at the consulate and she suggested a doctor and was kind enough to set up the appointment. The appointment was a rather interesting. First, the pediatrician speaks excellent English and Portuguese. He must also speak German since he is from Switzerland but holds an Austrian passport (I am not sure why that is important but he made it very clear). I also found him to be typical of the good pediatricians I have met. He was excellent with the kids but lacking a little in adult to adult social skills. In other words, his manner is a bit abrupt. Nothing exhibits this more than when we talked about vaccinations. He was rather surprised by the sheer number of vaccinations that both AJP and BLP have had.Typhoid – check, Yellow Fever – check, Rabies – check, Hepatitis A – check, Flu vaccination every year – check, check, check, check, check, check and check. All those and the standard CDC recommended vaccinations, how could a kid be so lucky? However, I was surprised by his recommendation that AJP have the Meningitis C vaccination and the TB vaccination. Immediately, I was sold on the Meningitis but felt uncomfortable with the TB. He must have noticed my hesitance because he began a long explanation that the TB vaccination is not common in the U.S. because TB is not common there etc. etc. I said I would check with the medical department at the consulate and get back with him. He ended it with, “All I can do is make a recommendation. You have to make the decision for yourself.” After much investigation and speaking with the medical department, we decided to not do it but to have the kids get a TB test yearly.
This whole experience came back to mind this past week when AJP went to the doctor for conjunctivitis. The pediatrician was very pleasant and asked me what I had decided about the TB vaccination. I told him that we were not going to do it. His response was, “Fine. I just needed to know.” I kind of thought to myself, “Hey buddy, I labored and labored over this decision and you just cast it off that quickly?”
In the end the answer to the question is not TB – neither the vaccination nor the actual disease, please.
3 comments:
My pediatrician here is kind of the same. I don't love it. She got all on edge when I told her I would be open to alternative medicine, anything that helps my babies. She actually told me "If you have a problem, you have to tell me. I won't know if you don't tell me." I was like "Yeah. I don't believe in mind-reading either, so we're good."
My pediatrician here is kind of the same. I don't love it. She got all on edge when I told her I would be open to alternative medicine, anything that helps my babies. She actually told me "If you have a problem, you have to tell me. I won't know if you don't tell me." I was like "Yeah. I don't believe in mind-reading either, so we're good."
I took Lizard Loaf to the doctor today and he got some shots. Because of his condition, she suggested that we might want to get him a shot to help protect him against RSV. It's expensive, and she won't do it unless he qualifies to have someone else pay for it, but when I showed a little hesitation I think she worried a little. He needed to get some vaccinations today, so she asked me how we felt about vaccines. When I told her that we love vaccines, she breathed an audible sigh of relief. It was funny, but I think you had to be there to feel the tension when she asked the question. I actually like her, though.
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