My 8 mths boys recent have completed his 6-in-1 vaccination jab and had taken the first of 3 dose of Pneumococcal vaccination.
Before we have decided to go ahead with the 6-in-1 jab, we seek for others advice. Some say it will be too strong for the baby, some say less painful as the baby will need not to have too many injection.
My son had the injection taken in polyclinics. It cost above S$200 in total, not including consultation fee unless baby need to see doctor for health reason. (Private clinic will be about the same cost but each visit will have an additional charges of consultation fees and the amounts varies from clinic to clinic.) Money is of course one of the issues for us to consider, but the most importance is whether our little baby can take the strong injection like that?? Finally after seeking one of the nurse advices, we let our little boy go for the 6-in-1 injection. The good thing is, he seem fine after the injection.
The next worry for us is, do we need to give him optional immunisations?? Some nurse said why let the little one have so many injections? Others say it will be good to prevent then sorry.
There are two type of optional injection which all the parents may need to consider letting their young’s one take the injection. First is the Pneumococcal, second is Rotavirus.
I have done my homework about the Pneumococcal injection. This disease may kill the young one if did not get treat in time. The child will have high fever which acts like a normal sickness cost parent unaware. Children may have brain damage too.
There are four types of illnesses cause by Pneumococcal disease:
1) Meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain or spinal cord)
- Can cause serious and sometimes permanent disabilities including hearing loss, paralysis, mental retardation and death.
- Symptoms: fever, lethargy or drowsiness, vomiting and stiff neck or legs
2) Bacteraemia (blood infection)
- Occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause infection of the blood.
- Can also develop into meningitis.
- Symptoms: fever, irritability and rapid breathing
3) Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
- Symptoms: cough, chest congestion, production of phlegm, fever and chills/shaking
- Early diagnosis and treatment is vital.
4) Otitis Media (middle ear infection)
- Symptoms: ear-ache, fever and frequent tugging of the ear.
The percentage of infant or young children getting this disease in Singapore is not yet critical otherwise MOH will have to add this injection in the list which all children must take. Therefore, you may not find these vaccines available in the polyclinics and is really very expensive for the whole course. Young baby who are under 1 years old will need to have 3 doses and above 1 year old will be 2 doses. For 2 years above toddles will only need to take 1 dose. These vaccines will not cost fever for most of the babies.
As the polyclinic does not carry these vaccines, I went to the children specialist clinic to take the injection for my boy. The injection cost me S$200 per dose including consultation fees (Prevenar: S$155, Consultation: S$30, Injection/Vaccination: S$15). The reasons I choose this clinic are: the doctor is experienced and full of patience; and no long queue like polyclinic.
As for the Rotavirus vaccines which polyclinic did not carry too, we hesitate to let our boy have it due to the cost (around S$150) and also too many injections when he was 3 - 6 mths old. By now, he is already 8 mths old and we realise that Rotavirus vaccine is only for babies under 6 mths old. According to the information I have, Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhea, and severe infection (rotavirus gastroenteritis) is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children. Children with a rotavirus infection have fever, nausea, and vomiting, often followed by abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhea. Kids may also have a cough and runny nose. As with all viruses, though, some rotavirus infections cause few or no symptoms, especially in adults.
However, according to one of the doctor told us that after several times suffer from this disease; the children themselves will have immunity. Further, this virus will not kill the young’s one if parents take good care of the children.
One of the best ways to protect your child from rotavirus infection is through breastfeeding. It is also ideal for you to disinfect his regular play areas and toys. It is just as important to maintain strict hygiene practices at home – such as helping your child wash his hands after using the toilet, and washing your own hands after diaper-changing, or when preparing and serving food.
Due to the above reasons, we are less worry that our boy did not took the Rotavirus vaccine. Beside, our 6 six old girl, we did not even get her jab for any of the optional immunisations (except for Chickenpox) and she is still a happy healthy girl.
To go for the optional injection or not, is really a dilemma not only to us but also to most parents!
Before we have decided to go ahead with the 6-in-1 jab, we seek for others advice. Some say it will be too strong for the baby, some say less painful as the baby will need not to have too many injection.
My son had the injection taken in polyclinics. It cost above S$200 in total, not including consultation fee unless baby need to see doctor for health reason. (Private clinic will be about the same cost but each visit will have an additional charges of consultation fees and the amounts varies from clinic to clinic.) Money is of course one of the issues for us to consider, but the most importance is whether our little baby can take the strong injection like that?? Finally after seeking one of the nurse advices, we let our little boy go for the 6-in-1 injection. The good thing is, he seem fine after the injection.
The next worry for us is, do we need to give him optional immunisations?? Some nurse said why let the little one have so many injections? Others say it will be good to prevent then sorry.
There are two type of optional injection which all the parents may need to consider letting their young’s one take the injection. First is the Pneumococcal, second is Rotavirus.
I have done my homework about the Pneumococcal injection. This disease may kill the young one if did not get treat in time. The child will have high fever which acts like a normal sickness cost parent unaware. Children may have brain damage too.
There are four types of illnesses cause by Pneumococcal disease:
1) Meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain or spinal cord)
- Can cause serious and sometimes permanent disabilities including hearing loss, paralysis, mental retardation and death.
- Symptoms: fever, lethargy or drowsiness, vomiting and stiff neck or legs
2) Bacteraemia (blood infection)
- Occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause infection of the blood.
- Can also develop into meningitis.
- Symptoms: fever, irritability and rapid breathing
3) Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
- Symptoms: cough, chest congestion, production of phlegm, fever and chills/shaking
- Early diagnosis and treatment is vital.
4) Otitis Media (middle ear infection)
- Symptoms: ear-ache, fever and frequent tugging of the ear.
The percentage of infant or young children getting this disease in Singapore is not yet critical otherwise MOH will have to add this injection in the list which all children must take. Therefore, you may not find these vaccines available in the polyclinics and is really very expensive for the whole course. Young baby who are under 1 years old will need to have 3 doses and above 1 year old will be 2 doses. For 2 years above toddles will only need to take 1 dose. These vaccines will not cost fever for most of the babies.
As the polyclinic does not carry these vaccines, I went to the children specialist clinic to take the injection for my boy. The injection cost me S$200 per dose including consultation fees (Prevenar: S$155, Consultation: S$30, Injection/Vaccination: S$15). The reasons I choose this clinic are: the doctor is experienced and full of patience; and no long queue like polyclinic.
As for the Rotavirus vaccines which polyclinic did not carry too, we hesitate to let our boy have it due to the cost (around S$150) and also too many injections when he was 3 - 6 mths old. By now, he is already 8 mths old and we realise that Rotavirus vaccine is only for babies under 6 mths old. According to the information I have, Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhea, and severe infection (rotavirus gastroenteritis) is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children. Children with a rotavirus infection have fever, nausea, and vomiting, often followed by abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhea. Kids may also have a cough and runny nose. As with all viruses, though, some rotavirus infections cause few or no symptoms, especially in adults.
However, according to one of the doctor told us that after several times suffer from this disease; the children themselves will have immunity. Further, this virus will not kill the young’s one if parents take good care of the children.
One of the best ways to protect your child from rotavirus infection is through breastfeeding. It is also ideal for you to disinfect his regular play areas and toys. It is just as important to maintain strict hygiene practices at home – such as helping your child wash his hands after using the toilet, and washing your own hands after diaper-changing, or when preparing and serving food.
Due to the above reasons, we are less worry that our boy did not took the Rotavirus vaccine. Beside, our 6 six old girl, we did not even get her jab for any of the optional immunisations (except for Chickenpox) and she is still a happy healthy girl.
To go for the optional injection or not, is really a dilemma not only to us but also to most parents!
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