MovieChat Forums > Mary and Martha (2013) Discussion > Who the hell goes to Africa without a Ma...

Who the hell goes to Africa without a Maleria shot?

posted 11 years ago by Evcannon123
8 replies | jump to latest

It's such a simple vaccine. I lived there for years and would never consider exposing myself to something so preventable....

[–] lorene-lavora 11 years ago

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaria: "Despite a need, no effective vaccine currently exists, although efforts to develop one are ongoing. Several medications are available to prevent malaria in travellers to malaria-endemic countries (prophylaxis). A variety of antimalarial medications are available. Severe malaria is treated with intravenous or intramuscular quinine or, since the mid-2000s, the artemisinin derivative artesunate, which is superior to quinine in both children and adults and is given in combination with a second anti-malarial such as mefloquine. Resistance has developed to several antimalarial drugs; for example, chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum has spread to most malarial areas, and emerging resistance to artemisinin has become a problem in some parts of Southeast Asia."

A friend of mine's son was in Tanzania recently and contracted it despite having taken every preventative measure.

[–] milbankj 11 years ago

Astounding ignorance. If you truly had lived there for years, you would be aware there is no vaccine, only anti-malaria medications taken usually in tablet form and not entirely reliable. I always took them as a precaution, but for various reasons many people-- including residents of areas where malaria can occur-- do not bother. Many just do their best to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. As the movie shows, many thousands of Africans do not have access to anti-malarials, or even simple things like mosquito nets.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pearlmom 11 years ago

to my knowledge there is a yellow fever vaccine and malaria pills....no shot for malaria. I went last December on a 2 week safari/jberg/capetown tour. I don't get the flu shot, so I did not get the yellow fever vaccine. the side effects of the malaria pills are rough....and I have to say that I encouraged many sick people to stop taking them so they could feel better.

I used mosquito repellant and accepted the responsibility and, fortunately, did not get the diseases. This movie makes it sound like you have 75% chance of dying if you don't take the pills. big kid gave his away and the little kid and mom did not take the pill. I assume Brenda Brethlyn's character took hers.

I kinda resented the movie, it was good, but all we need is MORE foreign aid!

[–] LaZedBoy 10 years ago

Who the hell goes to Africa without a Maleria shot?

Everyone.

There is no vaccine for malaria. There are pills.

Part of the story of this film is how incredibly poor the African education system is. You, Evcannon, who has lived there for years, are obviously a product of a very poor education system. Maybe you were there for your school years?

Spock! Form an away team! You, me, Bones, Scotty and umm... Ensign Smith!

[–] doctorjamesm 10 years ago

Also, pills aren't 100% effective. I've traveled to Africa taking malaria pills the whole time and I STILL got malaria.

[–] Prismark10 10 years ago

Rather a lot of people, unfortunately. Also not very place is Africa requires Anti Malaria pills.

Its that man again!!

[–] MicahFish 10 years ago

I got malaria while taking the proper medication.