Chicken Pox Vaccination : on the abdomen ?
Both Anya and Vai had their chicken pox vaccination today.
The doctor at our usual GP was apparently a stand-in doctor. He looked rather young and he did the jab on Anya’s ABDOMEN. Before he did it, I did ask if having it done on the tummy was okay (because usually it’s done on the arm, buttock or thigh), and he said it’s okay because it’s done to the skin, not to the muscle.
Anya didn’t cry during the jab. She was teary-eyed when he pulled out the needle and cried a painful cry afterwards.
I was NOT happy with the doctor because afterwards I saw him reading the ‘instruction leaflet’ and calling someone, asking about the jab! The doctor also said something on the phone insinuating that he did it at the ‘wrong place’!
After he hung up the phone, I asked him about what I’ve just heard. He said that it’s fine to have it done on the abdomen, but Vai’s case, because he’s much younger, he’d do the the jab on his arm instead.
Our usual doctor called us later that afternoon to ensure that we’re all okay. He did say that usually jabs on children are NOT done on the abdomen, because it’s just too plain scary for the poor kid!
Of course!
Anyway I learned something today :
if you’re not too comfortable with the doctor and the way he does things, do not let him carry out the procedure. Instead, postpone the appointment and see another doctor whom you’re more comfortable with.
Sigh.
If the weather hadn’t always been this wet everyday, I would’ve brought the kids for the jab on another day. But we just had to get it done today because we’re leaving for Jakarta in 8 days time and since our aunt just recovered from chicken pox, it’s best to get the kids vaccinated and ‘protected’ from it.
