The day finally came where I could not put it off any longer. Having been to see the doctor back in November last year, it was time for me to actually go and have the needles stuck into my arm to protect me from Hepatitis A and Yellow Fever. Di was due to have them as well, and so I was just waiting on her to get them because, well, let’s face it - I’m a big wuss when it comes to needles and I was not rushing in with a big “hooray for needles” dance, I can tell you.

The actual injection process turned out to be less painful than the information I learned while I was at the University Student Health. Turns out that the general public can go and get treated there, just like any other medical centre in Australia that is Medicare-approved. Therefore, it cost me absolutely nothing for the initial consultation, and $95 for the cost of the injections.

Di, on the other hand, went down to TravelVax in the CBD and ended up paying $145 all up for her consultation and injection costs. Doh. If only we’d known, but we figured “Student Health Centre” was for students only. Therefore, if you’re reading this, and are a resident of Melbourne - it’d be worth your while to go there because they are much cheaper than everywhere else for international destination vaccinations.

Lucky for me I was still reeling from the loss of $50, so when the nurse did the evil deed (one in each arm so they both hurt), it did not freak me out right there and then.

Oh, and just for the hell of it, decided to get the polio booster as well, since it was taken orally (the way all vaccines should be, in my opinion!). Plus the nice lady gave me a jelly bean and even though you should never take sweets from strangers, I did.

Sorry Mum and Dad - guess your “Stranger Danger” warnings were not severe enough when I was younger…

Categories: Travel, Odyssey 2001