Need rabies shot on 25 August

[Fishmonger Dave]

My crew is coming in from the northwest for weekend setup, and it turns out that one of them is going to need one shot in a rabies series on Saturday the 25th. Does anyone know if there's any way to arrange for this to occur on playa, instead of perhaps having to travel as far as Reno (instead of setting up camp...)?

[theCryptofishist]

My guess would be no.

Remsa doesn;t stock many drugs and tends to send injuries and illness that need them off playa. While this may be relaxing, I don't think they have something that exotic.

You can try emailing 911 at burningman.com, but this closeto the event they may not be looking at emails.

If you go to the medical tent before setting out you might be able to get a medical pass to go off playa and save the $20. It mi;ght be nice todo a fresh fruit and ice cream type run while you're in reno anyway.

[theCryptofishist]

Checking your date, I would really have to say no. Check with the med station when you get there, but plan to have to go off playa. I'd also call the reno hospitals ahead of time to make an appointment, or at least confirm that it is possible and find out where to go.

[Badger]

You might also check with whatever financial arrangements need to be considered. If paying for it can be pre-arranged through insurance or other arrangements that's cool. Otherwise the shot(s) can be damn expensive I hear.

[nocturnal_steve]

....seems like if you are being prescribed a series of vaccine, your doctor could give you one dose specifically labled for you and someone in the REMSA tent can administer ?

[mdmf007]

Good luck with that one - I have seen all sorts of injections done on playa - some illicit, some kosher.

See if your doc can prescribe the medication - some need to be refrigerated, some are stable etc. An injection is not a big deal, ask any diabetic. Its getting the medication you need - thats the problem.

Couldnt hurt to ask if you can do it.

But, Rabies is fatal in almost all cases that progress past a certain point. Is that something you want to risk, when it is so easy to treat?

later

[Fishmonger Dave]

Thanks for the advice, folks. It appears that the onsite medics aren't into administering patient supplied drugs, and they don't stock the serum, unsuprisingly.

So, it's an offsite affair. Anyone know where in Reno one would want to go?

[Rusted Iron]

Go to the International Society of Travel Medicine web site. They list a multitude of travel clinics, all over the world. There should be a member or two in Reno and they should have rabies vaccine. It would be best to call ahead, though.

[Badger]

Make arrangements and don't assume Reno's gonna have any vaccine in stock.

Nevada doesn't seem to have much to worry about as far as rabies goes

http://www.nwcphp.org/docs/rabies/animals.html

so they might not keep much of an inventory on hand.

[Valkyrie]

Odd. Of the stuff mentioned on that page, it sounds like Washington has a lower rabies issue than Nevada does.