Catching Up On Vaccinations Post-MCO At Klinik Kesihatan Ibu & Anak

Ibrahim was scheduled for his last vaccination in April 2020, during the thick of MCO. I was prepared to bring him in but his nurse from Klinik Kesihatan Ibu & Anak called to reschedule it to July because of the pandemic.

New norm at the Klinik Kesihatan Ibu & Anak

Before MCO, you can just walk in, take a number, and wait your turn. But now, there’s a nurse stationed outside the clinic.

You have to fill out a short form that asks whether you travelled recently, had contact with someone with COVID-19, attended a tabligh etc.

Then the nurse takes your temperature and the baby’s temperature, hands you a big tag with a number and lets you in the clinic.

Ibrahim and I went to the clinic before 8am so we were lucky to get a number tag to enter. If I’m not mistaken, only 20 or 25 people are allowed into the clinic at one time.

By the time we left (1 and half hours later), there were dozens of parents waiting outside.

Inside the clinic is business as usual. Take a number and wait.

That red tag determined how many people were in the clinic at a time. Have to return after for the next person.

Social distancing everywhere and mandatory mask wearing

They made it so that every person has a seat. I think that’s nice. Otherwise we’d all be crowded and standing and babies be wailing.

Only one parent/guardian allowed in. Although I did see some husbands accompanying their wives. Heh. Mr Ninja wasn’t allowed in.

Dopey baby was not very happy about being in the clinic so early in the morning

18 months old means this is his last vaccination. He’ll get a booster when he’s 7 years old in school. Such a happy milestone yay!

He didn’t think it was a happy moment but never mind. I can’t believe it’s been a year and half already.

Oh, 18 months also means you have to pay RM1. I’m not sure why. I wasn’t paying attention to what the nurse said. But yeah. RM1.

Aaaaand, they gave me a form to fill about his behaviour. Autism mums will immediately recognise that they’re looking for signs of autism.

Ibrahim hasn’t shown any for now. But I went through the form with Ayub in mind, and honestly, based on the questions he wouldn’t seem autistic either.

See?

Ayub ticked all the “right” boxes to be ruled as neurotypical. But he’s not. Just goes to show these kinda forms aren’t really tuned into high-functioning autism or level 1 autism.

Would probably pinpoint level 2 and lower quite fast though.

Back to Ibrahim. It took 1 and half hours before it was our turn.

Pretty standard, in both government and private clinics. Luckily they have a pretty fish pond just outside that kept Ibrahim entertained.

Baby check up and vaccination jab

Measurin weight, measuring height, measuring head circumference, and answering lots of questions about the baby. Breast fed, bottle fed, words sentences, walking running climbing playing, pointing laughing answering to his name. All that stuff.

Blah blah blah. Ibrahim was not in the mood. He give the nurse angry eyes. She smile and laugh at him. He became ANGRIER.

Hold, wipe, jab, cotton ball, tape. Done!