New to Singapore? Here’s how to get your child’s vaccination records sorted

Are you enrolling your child in an international school in Singapore? A family doctor from CHI shares all the requirements you need to get your child’s immunisation records up to date.

Welcome to Singapore! It’s modern, it’s beautiful, it’s hot… and it’s got a lot of rules and regulations, especially when it comes to immunising your children. And if you’re enrolling them in an international school, they’ll need to have all the immunisation records and requirements fulfilled as advocated by the Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB). To be exact, the national childhood immunisation schedule advocates the BCG, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio virus, Haemophilus influenzae type B, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal disease and Human Papilloma Virus vaccines for females aged nine to 26 years. Among these vaccinations, diphtheria and measles are compulsory by law.

But we get it – you’ve just moved and it’s all a bit overwhelming. Which is why it’s important to find a family doctor you can trust and help you through the process. At CHI, you can be assured that your child’s vaccination record will be updated according to the requirements of the Singapore law. Formed by a group of experienced doctors from various backgrounds, it aims to provide personalised services for families. The best part? It’s conveniently located in the heart of Orchard, which makes things so much easier, especially if you’re still figuring your way around the city.

What are the benefits of immunisation?

Firstly, vaccinations can be life-saving. Because of advances in medicine, the emergence of vaccinations has helped change the landscape entirely – a lot of potentially fatal and severe diseases are now preventable. They are also a requirement for entering most schools and childcare facilities.

Safe and effective, vaccinations have been proven to prevent certain diseases with minimal side effects or complications. They can also protect others – most people will not be infected with certain diseases and therefore cannot spread the disease to others. This provides protection for people who either can’t be or who are too young to be vaccinated. Immunisation also protects future generations. Vaccinations have reduced many diseases from happening significantly, and have even eliminated smallpox. If we continue to vaccinate, many diseases might not be a threat to our future generations.

Immunisation in Singapore made easy

The doctors at CHI are familiar with international school vaccination requirements and, most importantly, how immunisation schedules in Singapore are different from the rest of the world. Although Singapore’s immunisation schedule is based on the World Health Organization’s recommendations, it also takes local epidemiology into considerations.

Your one-stop-centre for all things medical for your family

Although some people may consider visiting different doctors for different purposes, it’s always easier to do everything in one place. Not only does it make it easier to keep track of your records, you’ll be seeing doctors who will assess your kids’ general condition (feeding, development) at the same time. They will also suggest any optional vaccinations that are suitable for your kids. Therefore, it would be better if there is continuity of care in one place. When you become a client at CHI, you become part of a welcoming community that even conducts regular seminars and workshops to help your family achieve total health and wellbeing.

Wondering if you should do all the immunisations in your home country?

Since many vaccinations provide rapid protection against illness, it’s best to get it done immediately, especially if you have a newborn. Teeny bubs are vulnerable to infection because of their immature immune systems. Delaying vaccinations also means your babies are not protected by immunisation for a longer period of time. This means there’s a chance they might get infected by bacteria or viruses that could have been prevented.

Secondly, international travel has made it easier for disease spread. Diseases that were less common due to vaccinations, such as measles and polio, have had a resurgence recently. By travelling, your children might be exposed to these diseases. If you wish not to follow the Singapore immunisation schedule, you can always consult your doctor for recommendations.

Dr. Fiona Chang Resident Physician, MD (Taiwan), MRCP (Glasgow)

Dr. Fiona Chang obtained her medical degree from Chang Gung University, Taiwan 2011 and subsequently completed her post-graduate training in Internal Medicine, Singapore. In 2015, Dr Chang attained the Membership of the Royal College of Physician (MRCP), Glasgow, United Kingdom and had since been practicing medicine in the Singapore restructured hospitals drawing experience in renal medicine, respiratory medicine, cardiology and dermatology.

Dr. Fiona is bilingual in English and Mandarin and also converses in Hokkien dialect.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding immunising your child, please consult your doctor for further advice. To get your child up to date with his or her immunisations in Singapore, contact us.