Latest vaccination

15 December 2006

We brought Ellie for her Pneumococcal Immunisation jab today. According to the medical experts, this is the no. 1 virus that is taking away lives today. So if parents could afford it, every baby should be vaccinated at the earliest possible age as certified by qualified paediatricians.

As usual, Ellie was so delighted when we stepped out of the house. She thought we were going out for her usual trip out of the house. Poor little thing. She hadn't the slightest clue that we were bringing her for a jab. :'(

Today we decided to let her apply the cream which the clinic assistant claimed that could ease most of the pain. It costs SGD 3.00 for just a little bit of it. She applied it on Ellie's right thigh and sticked a plaster over it as it is a type of local anesthetic. However, it will be most effective if we let it stay for half an hour, which we did.

When Ellie was given the jab, she did not cry when the syringe was poked into her thigh. It was only when Dr. Winston pushed the plunger to introduce the 'cocktail' that Ellie started crying. But she cried for just a couple of seconds as I was there shaking the rattles vigorously to distract her from the pain.

From what I observed, Ellie behaved the same with or without the cream. According to the clinic assistant, this jab was supposed to be the most painful of all, compared with other vaccines. The pain is caused by the body's reaction to the vaccine.

Anyway, everything went smoothly. The jab costs $179 and Ellie has to take one more of such jab, plus another booster when she is a couple of months pass her first birthday.

No matter about the price. I always believe in 'prevention is better than cure'.