Order Only: Agam Japra

[alt_arthur]

I have convinced Agam Japra's parents to release him to Moddey Dhoo, on one condition. His father is a muggle healer here at the camp (what they call a 'doctor'), and they insisted that the boy be vaccinated, using the traditional muggle method. I believe it involves sticking needles in the arm. I confess I am rather hazy on how this method works but the father was quite insistent.

Once I heard his story, I could see his point. It seems that little Agam had two older sisters, and they lost them both in the measles epidemic of '95.' The parents are quite bitter about this, particularly the father, saying that the deaths were totally unnecessary; if only they had been vaccinated, they would have survived. Of course, since they lost their two older children, it was even more of a wrench to give up Agam. But they are willing to make the sacrifice in hopes that he might have a better life.

Poppy, this is the sort of thing I would have asked Norma Brownmiller about, were she still alive, but alas, of course that is no longer an option. Do you know anything, or do any of your contacts know anything about vaccine stocks?

Comments

[alt_molly]

Sticking needles in his arm!?

It sounds positively barbaric!

[alt_poppy]

That is precisely the word for it, Molly. Barbaric!

And, Arthur. No, I've no idea whether any Muggle medicinals are stored anywhere. Or if they were, whether they'd be in fit for use after all this time.

I'm certainly not going to jab bits of metal into a body and squirt who knows what inside.

A filthy practice.

In any case, it's quite unnecessary to worry. I see to it that Stephen has what's needed to keep all the Sanctuary's children protected from those diseases that are allowed to run amok in the camp populations.

The child will be perfectly safe with our magical 'vaccine'. And no need for a needle jab.

[alt_poppy]

You're not suggesting the child is ill and could be carrying an active ailment into the Sanctuary, are you?

If so, we should tell Frank he'll need to spend a bit more time in his quarantine chamber

[alt_arthur]

No, no, not at all, Poppy. But I gather that the custom was that Muggle children used to receive vaccines at specific intervals. He wrote out the programme that a 'properly vaccinated' child should follow. He's most concerned about measles, of course, but also mentioned mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and a few others.

He is a muggle doctor, as I said, and he knows what he is talking about, concerning the diseases that have caused the most trouble in the camps.