Booster Shots

We moved here in British Columbia when Nathan was almost two so all his infant vaccines were done in Edmonton. We were told then that the next vaccination is when Nathan turns four.

We had to google kung paano nga ba ang immunization system dito sa BC. That's the thing about living here in Canada, iba-iba ang health system ng bawat province. Medyo mangangapa ka talaga kapag lumipat ka.

There is a central number per area here in BC that you can call to book an appointment. Sobrang tagal nga lang mag-antay ng sasagot so better choose their "call back" option. After a few hours, tatawag din sila.

I first called in January and asked for an appointment kaso they don't have a record yet of Nathan's immunization history in their system so I have to email it first and wait for two weeks. I emailed it and after a few weeks (I sort of delayed the call because it was super cold in February, ang hirap mag-bus going to the clinic), I called the hotline again and got an appointment for March 8, 2019. I chose their Langley clinic kasi one-ride away lang from our house.

Days before the appointment day, I was explaining to Nathan what will happen. Sabi ko sasaksakan siya and it will hurt a bit. He loves to play doctor-doctoran so he know what "shots" are. Very calm lang siya, parang wala lang. Mas kinakabahan pa nga ako, parang ako ang iva-vaccinate. I was actually very anxious because when he was still a baby, palaging kasama si Ford kapag binabakunahan siya. Si Ford ang tagahawak dahil nga nagpa-panic ako. Naisip ko, hala paano kapag nagwala si Nathan sa clinic?

We arrived 45 minutes before the appointment time. May mga narinig kaming batang nagsisigawan at nag-iiyakan kaya na-praning na naman ako. Pero eto siya, haping-happy pa. Relaxed na relaxed at panay pa-picture pa.

Na-accommodate din kami agad kahit maaga pa. The nurse was very nice as usual, pero si Nathan talagang very brave. Though shy, he was listening to her. Sinabi rin niya na" "I am not scared."

True enough, ang galing niya. I held him bago siya tusukan and instructed him to look away and close his eyes. Pero ang bagets talagang tiningnan pa ang pagtusok sa kanya. Wala akong nakitang fear sa kanya. Ako pa nga ang medyo kinabahan. Two shots and it was done. The nurse was so impressed, siya daw ang "best kid" niya that day.

The nurse made him choose a sticker. Eto ang pinili niya.

As a reward, binilhan ko siya ng paborito niyang mocha frappucino. And he asked me to tell his dad how good he was in the clinic.

By the way, the nurse asked me for Nathan's immunization record book para masulatan niya. Since Nathan was born in Alberta, iba ito sa "Child Health Passport" ng BC na mas maganda haha.

I am happy because we're done with Nathan's booster shots. These shots nga pala are for kids 4 to 6 years of age. Katulad sa Pinas, may measles outbreak din kasi dito sa BC, may confirmed 18 cases na raw as of today. Yep, outbreak na yan dito (unlike sa Pinas na libo-libo) at nagpa-panic na ang mga tao. May case/s yata na galing Vietnam yung nagkasakit kaya natatakot ako sa airport sa totoo lang. Magfa-fly pa naman kami twice soon. At least ngayon medyo kampante na ang loob ko.