Becoming a parent is one of the most joyful events in people’s lives, and thus the responsibility for a child’s health lies on their parents. Hospitals in the UAE provide adequate care for the newborns and recommended immunizations that defend the newborns from different diseases. It is therefore important to familiarise with healthcare services and immunisation programs for the baby.
Here are the complete details regarding healthcare and immunisation for newborns.
Newborn Healthcare Essentials
The UAE has made significant strides in terms of the development of its healthcare system that can deliver on a very high standard of services to its residents.
Here are some essential details regarding the healthcare of a newborn.
Choosing a Paediatrician
Choosing a paediatrician is one of the earliest things parents do in order to guarantee their newborn’s well-being. Most paediatricians in UAE are well-trained to diagnose kids’ illnesses and provide appropriate care to infants and kids in particular. The selection of a paediatrician should be made before the birth of a baby so that the first visit can be made immediately after delivery. Choosing a paediatrician depends on specific characteristics like experience, location, language, more importantly, the insurance cover.
Parenting Support Groups
Attending a peer support group can be a useful mode of finding parents to share with. There are many groups in the UAE that provide more information on workshops, seminars, and forums to create an awareness of newborn care, immunisation among others. These groups can also help to offer a shoulder to lean on or offer a word of advice when faced with parenthood issues.
Regular Health Check-Ups
Physical examination is very important throughout an individual’s life, not leaving out newborns as they offer health checks regularly. When you are on these visits, your paediatrician will weigh your baby, measure their length and also the circumference of the head to understand if they are growing in the right manner. They will also check on the developmental progress, coordinate your baby’s movements, and respond to any concerns that you may have on feeding, sleeping or overall development as well as observe your baby’s reflexes. Newborns in the UAE are supposed to have their first check-ups within the first week after birth, and later at one month of age, and two months, and four months, six months, nine months and a year later. Such check-ups afford a chance to talk about how your baby is developing and what care and activities are advised for the child.
Essential Immunizations for Newborns
A newborn must receive immunizations as part of birth care; immunizations guard a baby against severe and fatal diseases. Immunisations are carried out in a series in the early years of a child’s life starting soon after birth.
The following is a general overview of the immunisation schedule for newborns.
At Birth
Following immunisations are necessary for children soon after birth.
BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin): Prevents occurrence of Tuberculosis disease commonly known as TB.
Hepatitis B: Initial course of an immunisation against hepatitis be it primary or booster dose.
At 2 Months
When a baby reaches 2 months, following immunisations are required.
Hepatitis B: Second dose.
DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis): Prevents against three diseases which are diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.
IPV (Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine): Prevents poliomyelitis or polio.
HIB (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B):Prevent infections that are caused by bacteria for example meningitis.
PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine): Prevents pneumococcal diseases Pneumococcal infections are associated with pneumococcal bacteria.
Rotavirus: Physical method in the form of oral vaccine that is used in protecting individuals against rotavirus, a major cause of severe diarrhoea.
At 4 Months
Following are the necessary immunisations for a 4 month old baby.
DTP: Second dose
IPV: Second dose
HIB: Second dose
PCV: Second dose
Rotavirus: Second dose
At 6 Months
Here are the immunisations for a 6 months old baby.
Hepatitis B: Third dose
DTP: Third dose
IPV: Third dose
HIB: Third dose
PCV: Third dose
Rotavirus: Third dose
At 12 Months
Following are the immunisations for a 12 month old baby.
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): First booster of the assembled vaccine.
Varicella (Chickenpox): First dose
Hepatitis A: First dose
PCV: Booster dose
At 18 Months
Here are the final doses of the newborn’s immunisation.
DTP: Booster dose
IPV: Booster dose
HIB: Booster dose
Hepatitis A: Second dose
MMR: Second dose
Varicella: Second dose
Taking care of your newborn also means knowing the current systems of healthcare and the immunizations that your newborn requires at this stage. This however comes with a sense of responsibility as a parent or guardian, when you present yourself and your baby to a trusted paediatrician. Moreover, timely immunisation not only shields your child but also the society from the spread of the diseases.
