tick encephalitis and rabies - need the shots in London
 

Had a good search through but there's quite a few contradictory posts and information that could well be out of date so apologies if I've brought this one round again.

Off to Russia via the Baltic states in Sept and need, amongst other jabs (sorted at the local GP for free) Tick Encephalitis and Rabies - local GP can do the Rabies for £120 for both injections but not the TE - so... need a good place in London that wont charge the earth for these shots...

MASTA obvious choice - but any other options?

Cheers in advance.

m

M,
I had my Tick Borne Enceph shots at my doctors, they had not done it before and had to order in the vaccination and I had it done along side all my other shots the booster follows about 4 weeks after the first shot and should give 9 to 12 months cover. No reason they can not do it, they just have to order it like any another drug - it's just an injection and it won't hurt me at all :)

Watch out for these ticks as they are devious little swine, I got covered in them while lying in the grass camping, they get in everywhere. If you camp in long grass anywhere west of the Urals take a bit of care and keep your tent closed up.

Steve

nomad travel
 

Try nomad travel: Travel Health Clinic - Nomad Adventure Travel Store

They have clinics all around London and this is where I'm currently having my injections for my trip. Prices are ok. At least you can get an appointment! Unlike my GP, they hardly ever answer the phone!

re the ticks, avoid long grass and tall weeds as much as possible, In most french vets and supermarkets you can buy a little tool for a few pence to remove them. looks like a little plastic wrecking bar, you slide the V under the tick and spin it anti clockwise, it will then unscrew cleanly from its site.

It might be worth pitching tent over a larger plastic sheet, like an oversize ground sheet. They do not like to cross open country. If you have the time you can get the jabs in France cheaply. Just go to any doctors and ask.

That's a great help - cheers guys.

My Doctors wont get the vaccine in as it's so expensive and they've had patients not turn up for the jabs - plus it's twice the cost of MASTA.

I'll give that link a try - they seem spot on.

Thanks again :-)

m

Re the 'Tick Removers' just do a Google for "O'TOM" . I have used these on my dogs, and they work:thumbup1: Better than squeezing the contents of the ticks stomach into your bloodstream:nono:


Trophymick

Fab - thank for that, I'll grab a couple and stow them away 'just in case' - but I just know if we don't sort it properly we'll end up with problems.

m

cover a tick with a dab of butter, vasoline, lard, etc., and in about 30 seconds it will release its grip and can easily be removed. If they can't breathe the let go to find a nother place.

ahhh thanks for that - I'd heard though that if you suffocate them they are 'sick' and release all kind of nasties into your system :-(

They release the toxins only if squeezed and not even necessarily then. I have lived in tick country most of my life without problems. In the late spring and eaarly fall, when they are their peak, we taped our trouser cuffs, dosed a bit of turpentine around them, and checked each other when we got out of the woods. A quick pat of lard on each invader and in a minute you could remove them with a piece of tissue. heads are out, As far as Lyme's disease goes, if you get the critters off within 24 hours before they go into the injection stage, you will not get sick. With a good tick repellant sprayed liberally around the edges of your tent, and your clothes, there should never be a problem. I suppose peremithrin would work against them although I have never used it.

That's genius - thanks very much for that.

If any of you are coming to the June UK meet I'll buy you all a pint :-)

m

The general concensus is NOT to try and suffocate them or use acetone, (nail varnish remover) cigarettes or other old ways. Have a quick google on ticks:thumbup1: My belief was same as yours up until recently, then I did a bit of homework (my dogs get them) and found out all kinds of wierd and wonderful things about them:helpsmilie: I had one on me last year, didn't feel a thing until it was nice and fat :censored:, not a pleasant experience:funmeterno:.
Last year was a good year for ticks in Scotland, bad for humans/animals:(


Trophymick

ewwww don't think I fancy finding a nice fat tick in my arse after a nights camping in the baltics.... I think I'll go with the protection route - long sleeve tops and trousers... then the three of us can make like apes in the morning and check each other for the little blighter's.

Still going to get the jabs though - never seen the point in taking risks when there's a way to avoid it.

m

True about the cigarette idea, that pisses them off and they are as likely to borrow deeper as they are to back out. acetone will do the same. However, in 60 years of my own (started fishing when I was 6) my pop's 88 years before he went to the trout stream in the sky where the deer are all stupid and stand still, and 10,000 years of my People living in tick country and using lard,--buffalo fat melted down-- I would contest any medical journal that says it doesn't work. I have never had one stay in. They back out completely and are just brushed away with a tissue, a small stick, whatever is handy except the fingers. Don't know why we were always cautioned to never touch one, but folklore holds and I won't touch one.