Immunization shot

We got a letter from the Ontario health dept saying that our eleven year old son had to have one more immunization shot to be allowed to stay in school. In India kids get one MMR shot, but here they get two.

So one Saturday morning, I took him to the nearby Walk -in- Clinic. These are clinics that you literally walk in to, and after showing the receptionist your Health Card..she asks you to wait to see a Doctor depending on what your problem is.

These clinics are free if you have a health card.
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A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery.

Most of your Ontario health benefits are covered across Canada.The province or territory you are visiting will usually bill the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care directly for hospital and physician services.

Eligibility

Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage (OHIP). To be eligible for Ontario health coverage you must :

• be a Canadian citizen or have immigration status as set out in Ontario's Health Insurance Act, and
• make your permanent and principal home in Ontario, and
• be physically present in Ontario 153 days in any 12-month period.

OHIP coverage normally becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario. The ministry strongly encourages new and returning residents to purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the OHIP waiting period.

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We waited for half an hour before we were called. The waiting room was FULL of kids waiting to get flu and immunization shots.

They asked us to wait in room 5, (they had about seven or eight rooms). A nurse came in and double checked that we were there for the MMR shot. She filled the syringe and then we waited for the Doctor. He turned out to be a young Indian Doctor, who asked us routine questions like, if my son was feeling fine, if he had any allergies etc.

Then before we knew it, he had given the shot....and we left. A family with three children had come in without health cards and they were told that they would have to pay $50/- per child. This was the Doctors fees as the immunization shot was free. I guess they were new to Canada and had not received their cards yet. This takes about two to three months after you get here to come to you in the mail.

Kids from the Middle East end up taking about three immunization shots here. So depending on which country you are coming from, you will get a notice from the health dept as to what shots your kids have to take.

The Doctor filled in a form, we faxed the same to the health dept and they inform the school.

That was our first experience with the Walk in, and now we're waiting for the letter to come for our eight year old daughter. She has to take the same MMR shot too!