We came to Kuala Lumpur to get vaccinations, and the Rabies series is complicated. A series of 3 shots (day 0,7,28) and then if you do get bitten, you still need two additional injections. Without the vaccination, if bitten, you need five injections of Rabies immune globulin (which is only found in the large cities). If bitten or scratched by a dog, cat, bat or monkey–instructions are to wash it very well and then get to a medical facility which will assume the animal has Rabies. If not treated, the disease is 100% fatal. There are outbreaks all over SE Asia. If vaccinated, you still receive two injections, but just the normal vaccine which is available locally. We decided that we would not risk it and were trying to arrange our travel so that we would come back to KL for the vaccinations day 7 and day 28. In the states, the vaccination costs $1000 a person and is not covered by insurance. In KL it is $150 per injection (we thought it would be cheaper).
It is all a game of numbers. Statistics. We had a big discussion and decided against getting the rabies vaccinations. We are all weary of animals here, will take any bite or scratch very seriously and are prepared to interrupt our trip and fly to Singapore for treatment. We also have WorldNomads insurance, which does cover airlift for emergency treatment, so this cost was included in our calculus. The kids were relieved that they were not going to get three shots!
We went to the Petronas Tower Clinic and talked to the doctor there. She agreed with our decision. We did get the Typhoid vaccine and felt good about that. She said that everyone in the clinic receives this vaccine and since we all love to eat street… food, it was imperative.
The famous Petronas Towers that are in all the action films
Bochner Family Adventure 
Let me know if you want to talk statistics–remember I am prof Imhoff of Boston U, I teach quantitative methods! You are smart to take some precautions without going overboard, and it sounds like you prepared well. And do tell your fans about the down times as well as the upbeat and exciting, these times will strengthen you as a family.
Seiza and I are planning some serious travel, the Mandolin Orchestra has been invited to play in Bruchsal Germany so we will build a trip around that. She has friends in London, and there is a music conference in Portugal around the same time. But in life, we are going opposite direction: looking at a 1930’s house in a beautiful but quiet little town, Independence OR. Miss all of you very much, but so proud to be greatgrampa!
LikeLike