Cost of Protection

A few weeks ago (June 22), you published a letter (‘Injecting Tax Money’) from an irate reader who took issue with a suggestion that travelers should avail themselves of the services of public health clinics to get “free or low cost” inoculations, implying that she and fellow taxpayers were underwriting these shots for wealthy tourists.

We’re going on a safari to Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar this month. I was shocked to discover how expensive it is to get innoculated (even at clinics) and amazed at the number of phone calls it took to learn which inoculations were necessary for proper protection.

My search led me to Dr. Brian G. Terry at the Community Medical Center, 301 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena; tel. (818) 584-1200. The sense of security, personal care and knowledge that he and his staff gave us in a brief visit was extraordinary. And the price is right! The tablets for malaria are $12 each, compared to a prescription filled at $18.50 per tablet.

GINGER LUDWICK

Los Angeles