Yui had her first vaccination today (or rather, yesterday since it’s 2am now). With some hoped-for travels in the near future in mind, we decided to have our daughter be vaccinated per both US and Japanese standards. Below is the list of recommended vaccines by CDC US and the timing with which they need to be administered.
Japan and US are same except that BCG is required in Japan and that RV, HepA and B and Varicella are not required. Since said four vaccines are not required here, they are not given for free, but for a fee.
RV (which would protect Yui against rotavirus) costs a whopping 13,000yen per shot whilst HepB (yep this is against Hepa B) costs 5,500yen per shot. Both vaccines needs to be administered three times. Ouch yes. But it’s for Yui’s sake so we have to go for it.
With advise from the doctor and with consideration on the Japanese recommended timing of immunizations, we decided to have her DPT (against Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus), Polio (speaks for itself) and BCG (against Tuberculosis) vaccinations on her third month, all free.
So thankfully yesterday afternoon, Yui only had to endure three injections since RV is taken orally (whew!) – PCV (against pneumococcal bacteria that causes pneumonia, meningitis), Hib (against haemophilus influenzae type b which causes meningitis) and HepB.
Yui looked so ready for her vaccine shots.
But oh how she screamed in pain. 🙁
Her band-aids are so cute though!!
Us adults also had our influenza vaccine but our band-aid is the usual boring one. I want a Hello Kitty one too! 😀 And I’ve a mind to copy my daughter with the screaming – my vaccine hurt too! Hehe.
Thankfully Yui didn’t fuss much after her immunization. She just slept to pass off the pain.
Her pedia’s clinic is near Motomachi hence Mayumi and I dropped by to look for fleece/down jacket for Yui which her Dad had asked me to buy for her to use at home. The traditional Gap jacket solved the jacket hunt.
Shopped some other clothes and a pair of boots (for Yui) besides. But this is my favorite purchase in this afternoon’s shopping. Our little miss would look so fashionable (and warm) in this cute poncho.
If Yui is a bit older, this can actually be considered as her reward for the afternoon’s pain. 🙂
