Passport Health Triangle

I traveled to Vietnam the end of December and knew I needed to get my Hep A and Typhoid fever vaccinations. Back in my hometown, you got these shots from your primary care physician and they didn’t keep it in stock, so you had to tell them ahead of time so they could order some in for you. Well, I called my PCP down here in Cary and was told, «We don’t give those here.» Luckily, I didn’t have to go without them, I was recommended to Passport Health.
Because of work, I actually came about 10 minutes late (sorry!) but the nurse was very friendly and didn’t make me feel rushed. Since I checked the CDC’s website prior to coming in, I already knew the recommended shots needed to go to Vietnam, so the discussion between the nurse and I was pretty short. It was just a matter of whether I wanted the pills for malaria.
There’s a $ 50 administration/​visit fee and then the individual prices for each vaccine vary. Overall, the prices are competitive. Making an appointment wasn’t too difficult and they were able to fit me in later in the day so I wouldn’t have to call out of work. I was recommended to come back to get the second shot in each series to complete my immunization and I will probably come back to Passport Health to do that.

Shots, Shots, Shots…
Visit: 9÷6÷11
Sorry…not the kind of shots that you drink at a party. I’m talking about the «ouchie» kind of shots, the ones you get in the arm with a needle. Before going abroad, it is advisable to consult with a travel medicine specialist for current vaccination and health guidelines pertaining to the destination. Passport Health is the largest travel medical and immunization services in the United States with 5 local offices in the Triangle area. I am going on a safari in Kenya in November so I need many vaccinations based on what is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, Kenya requires certain vaccinations to be allowed entrance into the country.
It was very easy to make an appointment with Passport Health. I was able to get an appointment within a few days of calling them and with the various locations throughout the Triangle, I had to drive less than 10 miles to the clinic.
I had to bring my immunization record (the vaccines and date), the Client Consent form, the name and number to my preferred pharmacy, and a credit card. Passport Health does not accept or file health insurance claims.
When I arrived, the young nurse, Ms. Hinson, had a 54 page booklet especially prepared for me. She spent about 45 minutes going over the CDC vaccine recommendations and other important health information. It was extremely informative. She was able to answer my questions and provide additional information based on some of her personal experiences.
It turned out that I needed 7 different vaccinations. I received all 7 shots in under 2 minutes. I liked that she actually rubbed/​gave a light massage to the area of the shot which quickly dissipated the discomfort. Ms. Hinson said she wanted to proceed with haste but asked me after each shot how I felt and if I wished to have a break. I told her that I wanted it over with as fast as possible. About 30 seconds after I received all the shots, I felt a little ill… cold sweats, ringing in my ears, and nauseous. The nurse rubbed by back, gave me a cold bottle of water, fanned me with a sheet of paper, and helped me put my feet up. It only lasted a few minutes and then I was instantly back to normal. Ms. Hinson repeatedly assured me that this was a normal reaction for some people. She did not make feel bad. She was very sweet. I give her an A+ for taking care of me during those few minutes when I had a bad reaction. My husband had the same round of shots and he didn’t have a bad reaction at all. So I don’t describe this to make you scared or hesitant of getting shots but to illustrate the care that was provided.
If you are planning to travel outside the United States, I highly recommend contacting Passport Health to protect yourself.