Rafael's Unscheduled Immunization Day
10:38 AM
Last Friday, I received an SMS from Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) saying that my son's vaccination is due. I cannot actually believe and I don't understand as well why they sent me such message because I knew my son's vaccines were up to date. I even checked his vaccination card and saw that our next appointment is supposed to be after his first birthday for the first dose of MMR and Chickenpox vaccine.
To clarify things, I decided to call them and I was informed that UAE is running a National Polio Campaign from November 16 - 27, 2014 and January 11 - 22, 2015. According to the leaflet that they were giving away in the health center, UAE had been polio free for several decades already but new cases among neighboring countries had been recorded, thus this National Immunization Campaign was initiated to make sure all children under five are fully protected. So even if Rafael has an updated immunization, he still gets an extra shot of polio vaccine for further protection.
One thing I am really grateful about living in this country is that they provide full coverage of my child's immunization. Yes, you read it right! children's vaccines are given here for free. I hope someday, the Philippine government will be able to provide this kind of benefit to its people too. After all, disease prevention has been proven to be far more cost-effective than treatment and rehabilitation.
45 comments
That's a really good benefit to have free immunization for kids. Here we have subsidies for it.
ReplyDeleteHi Dominique! Yes, this free immunization is really a big help for parents like us that's why we are very grateful to the UAE govt for having this program available even for expats.
DeleteWow, nice perks. Here in the Philippines, I think primary vaccines are free but I'm not sure if the stocks are enough or kung lahat ba nabibigyan.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe DOH has this Expanded Program for Immunization available in health centers.
DeleteSo nice that there are free immunization shots there!
ReplyDeleteYes, Aggie! It's a BIG help.
DeleteWow. Good for you (and for all the kids there in UAW). Dito sa Pilipinas, free yung mga basic na vaccines sa health centers. Pero yung PCV which costs P3,500 to P4,500, wala ngayong available sa centers. So we had to pay P4,000 for that last month. :(
ReplyDeleteP4500?? I paid P5500 for that! Ang expensive naman ng pedia ko pala :(
DeleteHi Audric's mom & Ayi! That's really expensive! UAE also provides PCV and Rotavaccine for free. So malaking tipid talaga sa amin yung immunization program nila. I hope someday, Filipinos will be able to enjoy the same benefits too.
DeleteI have to agree mommies! Sana ganyan din sa Pilipinas. Dito you should have money first before you can actually have your child immunized.
ReplyDeleteI really hope so too, Ayi. Maraming magulang na matutulungan at maraming babies na mas magiging healthy kung makakapag provide din ng free vaccines ang Philippine government.
DeleteWow! Free vaccines! How I wish ganyan dito sa pinas. Ang mahal pa naman ng mga vaccines dito, I remember we pay Php 7,500 for 1 vaccine and 1 oral drop nung 1 month palang si Rhian and 3 sessions yun ha. Butas ang bulsa. :(
ReplyDeleteWow! That's very expensive mommy Rackell. Sana nga maging free na rin lahat ng vaccines ng babies jan sa Pilipinas.
DeleteAng swerte! Free vaccines na may follow ups and updates pa. Sana dito din. Well, we have free vaccine naman sa center pero grabe. I once went there with my baby and I was saddened by the way they handle things. Kasabay ng mga may TB ang mga bata! Grabe lang. So I vowed never to return again. magbabayad nalang ako sa private. But if you'll think about the taxes you pay each year, sana manlang pakinabangan mo kahit konti diba? Hay Pilipinas!
ReplyDeleteSana nga maging free na rin ang vaccines sa Pinas, malaking tulong yun sa mga parents na kagaya natin. I must agree with you that in the Philippines, you have to pay in order to get a good quality service. Nakakalungkot.
DeleteGood for you, here sa Pinas, may bayad and mahal pa.
ReplyDeleteSana nga mag improve na rin ang health care system sa Pinas.
DeleteWe availed of the free vaccines here from the health center for our kids on their first year. But hanggang dun pa lang ang kaya ng government natin i-offer. But we were grateful anyhow.
ReplyDeleteWe really have to be grateful even for the little things. Mabuti na lang kaya iprovide ng gov't yung basic vaccines for free. However, I am still hoping that someday we'll be able to enjoy better health benefits in the future.
DeleteI agree! I hope my little sis could also have her immunization here :D
ReplyDeleteI really hope so too, Glenda.
DeleteI think DOH have vaccines. The difference is DOH does not call you to remind about the vaccines. You need to assert for you privileges.
ReplyDeleteYes, Katrina. DOH has the Expanded Program for Immunization being given for free in different health centers.
DeleteGaling! :D Free sa mga health center dito sa Pinas ang vaccines. Yun lang, you really have to deal with the halo-halo crowd. Malas mo pa kung matyempuhan mo masusungit na staff. :-p
ReplyDeleteSiguro nagiging masungit lang mga staff sa pagod dahil sa dami ng pasyente na kelangan nila asikasuhin. But I still believe that there are a lot of caring health care providers out there.
DeleteFree immunization? Wow! And I too am hoping that our country (once the corrupt officials have been weeded out) will prioritize the health of its people. Are you staying there for good?
ReplyDeleteI really hope so too, Ida. It's about time that the Filipino citizens should enjoy the benefits of the taxes they're paying. We're staying in Abu Dhabi for as long as my husband has his job. Di uso dito ang immigrants e. Puro working and temporary resident visa lang ang pinoprovide nila sa mga expats.
DeleteWow, free vaccination! You must have saved a lot of money! I tried saving money by availing of the free vaccinations in barangays, but not all are available so we still got to spend a lot of money. Sulit naman basta for the children's health!
ReplyDeleteYes, Marie. The free immunization is really a huge help in terms of our finances. I also agree, when it comes to our child's health, no matter how expensive, we will always find ways in order to provide their needs.
DeleteOur most recent vaccine cost 5k. But we got MMR and Polio for free via home service. Our local health workers just knocked on our doors one day and there, unscheduled immunization too.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know that the Philippine government has this program too, and the best thing about it is that it's for free.
DeleteThat's nice. I think the Philippines have free (required) vaccines too c/o DOH and they can be accessed in Barangay Health Centers. May be we are used to getting vaccines lang from our pedias who we trust instead of lining up on the scheduled dates to get the free ones. Just my thought.
ReplyDeleteYes, Que. DOH also provides free immunization for babies. But if you hate lining up in health centers, it's going to be more convenient to get the vaccines from the pedia. Yun lang, mahal.
DeleteThat is a good project of the government! Hope we have that too.
ReplyDeleteLet's pray for that, Maria.
DeleteLove the free vaccine! It would be nice if its available in Pinas soon. Dito naman sa amin, they offer free FLU vaccines other than that its taken on the insurance everytime we go to the pedia naman. Cute neh baby:)
ReplyDeletehttp://pinayexplorer21.blogspot.com
Thanks Melgie. Good thing na rin na kahit papano may mga available na free vaccines at may health insurance na nagcocover nung ibang hindi available for free.
DeleteI really hoped that all children's vaccination are free here in the Philippines. Considering the taxes the govt got from our monthly pay, I think we deserve to have them for free. Kaso hindi ganun eh.. On the 27th, it's our girl's schedule immunization, nako butas bulsa again..
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I hope so too that you'll be able to enjoy the benefits of having to pay taxes. Nakakalungkot kasi na hindi mo na nga maramdaman na may naitutulong yung tax, mababalitaan mo pa na kinukurakot ng mga govt officials.
DeleteGood for you! That's the thing about this country... we don't have free healthcare to speak of. Wish all those PDAF would be devoted to healthcare.
ReplyDeleteI really hope so too Meikah. Those PDAF will really go a long way and would benefit a lot of people when used properly.
DeleteI agree. I hope there will be free full coverage of vaccination here. With this, parents will not reason out they have no money so their kids are sick every now and then. And of course this will be great savings for us.
ReplyDeleteNice perks. I agree that we need to have our son immunized in accordance to the schedule. Good thing, that it's free of charge. It's so expensive here in our country
ReplyDeleteSadly, not everyone in the UAE is aware that they can avail of free immunization for their kids. Kaya every time we find out one of our friends is pregnant and they're going to keep the child here with them, we tell them to take advantage of the fee benefits they can get. Sayang eh.
ReplyDeleteSana nga Gerilen. Big help sa parents yun pag nagkataon.
ReplyDelete