Vaccines!

The Peace Corps doctor's office in Kigali.

        Every Peace Corps volunteer is required to take vaccinations before and during their service.  Some have more than others, but I have been told that Peace Corps Rwanda volunteers receive the maximum amount of vaccinations.  Here is the list of vaccinations:

Before service

These vaccinations are required to be taken during the medical review process, which generally occurs three months to nine months before service:

Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis

Polio

Start of service

This vaccination is required to be taken upon arrival in Philadelphia, where all volunteers serving in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East meet prior to traveling to their country of service:

Yellow Fever

During service

These vaccinations are given by the in country doctors during their service in the Peace Corps.  Most of these vaccinations are given during the training period:

Flu vaccine

Hepatitis B #1

Hepatitis B #2

Hepatitis B #3

Hepatitis A #1

Hepatitis A #2

Rabies #1

Rabies #2

Rabies #3

Diphtheria and Tetanus

Meningococcal

Typhoid 

         For those counting, that is 15 vaccinations I took in a one year period.  The Peace Corps wants to make sure that you are protected as much as possible from diseases and infections due to the remote nature of our work.  In addition to the 15 vaccinations, I’m required to take a malaria prophylaxis every day (in the form of a pill) to avoid contracting malaria.