Karri Family Clinic Tampines

Power over Cervical Cancer: Special Package Price for Cervarix vaccine

2010-06-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

In Singapore, one case of cervical cancer is diagnosed every two days and claims the life of more than one woman every 5 days. Yet there is still very little awareness that you can reduce the chance of getting this cancer significantly by vaccination.

This vaccination is recommended for young women from 12 years of age onwards and is in fact part of the immunization program in US and UK. As part of the campaign to increase awareness of Cervical Cancer prevention, a new website has been launched where you can find out more about Cervical Cancer and also do a online evaluation to see your risk of getting cervical cancer. Do have a look at it to learn more about how to prevent this disease.

In support of this awareness campaign, our clinic is offering a very special package of three Cervarix vaccinations for $320 which is $100 off our normal package price. This package is only valid till 22 July 2010 and packages have to be fully paid by cash or nets.

For more information on Cervical Cancer, please visit: www.pocc.sg.

Consultation Hours for 17 June to 21 June

2010-06-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Please note that our morning clinic will be closed this Thurs (17), Fri (18) and Mon (21). Evening and weekend clinics are as usual.

Thurs 17th: No Morning Clinic, Evening Clinic 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Fri 18th: No Morning Clinic, Evening Clinic 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Sat 19th: 9.30am to 12.30pm (as per normal)
Sun 20th: 6.30pm to 9.30pm (as per normal)
Mon 21st: No Morning Clinic, Evening Clinic 6.30pm to 9.30pm

Latest Recommendations on influenza vaccination

2010-05-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

Many parents have been asking me about whether they need to give their kids the influenza vaccine. Well, according to the latest edition of The Singapore Family Physician, we are following the 2009/2010 recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics which recommends annual influenza immunization for:

1. All children from 6 mths to 18 years
2. Household contacts and care providers of children placed at high risk and healthy children less than 5 years. ie nursery teachers, nurses etc
3. Health care professionals, ie people like me
4. Pregnant women in mid trimester of pregnancy onwards

The schedule for kids is

6mth to 36mth, two 0.25ml doses, 4 weeks apart
36mth to 9 years, two 0.5ml doses, 4 weeks apart
>9 years one 0.5ml dose

Children who have had the influenza vaccine in previous years require only one dose.

The current trivalent influenza vaccine is currently available in our clinic and priced at $30 nett

More information found here

Clinic Closed on Vesak Day

2010-05-26T21:05:00.001-07:00

Our Clinic will be closed on Vesak Day.

The clinic sessions will resume as usual on Saturday and Sunday.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Latest Flu Vaccine is currently in stock!

2010-05-24T05:37:00.000-07:00

We now have stock of the latest Flu Vaccine (3 in 1) which includes both H1N1 and H3N2 strains. The cost of the vaccine is $30 nett.

Would you feed your kids ice cream that does not melt?

2010-04-26T06:00:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday, there was an article in Sunday Times which talked about an unmeltable ice cream from Ya Kun. I don't know about you, but I am very concerned about this. As you can see, the ice cream retains it shape for an hour instead of melting into a liquid like most ice cream should. In the article, it is explained that this is because the manufacturers added emulsifiers and stabilisers to the ice cream to prevent it from melting. According to them, the amount of stabilisers used is in compliance with the US FDA requirements so it is safe for human consumption. Remember that they also told us that Trans Fats were safe!

I don't know about you, but as a concerned parent, I have told my kids that we will avoid eating the Ya Kun ice cream toast until I can be convinced that it is safe. In other countries, such "ice cream" would not be called "ice cream" but "ice confectionery" to differentiate it from real ice cream. I think we as consumers need to be better informed so that we can make a decision whether to eat it or not.

We as consumers need to demand safer and better food or else we will be given whatever is cheaper and easier to handle. I spoke with a friend of mine who runs a Cafe and he tells me that even with butter, there are cheaper ones with plenty of stabilizers or more expensive ones which have natural ingredients. We need to reward those places who serve healthy food and voice our concerns to those who compromise on food quality.

Ya Kun "ice cream" toast does not behave like ice cream!

What do you think? Are you concerned about this? If you are, please write in to voice your concern! You can write directly to Straits Times Life! at stlife@sph.com.sg and directly to Ya Kun at info@yakun.com. The people selling food must be made to feel responsible for the food they feed us and it is up to us to make sure they know we care.

Parents beware of High Fructose Corn Syrup!

2010-04-19T03:55:00.000-07:00

Article by Dr Suren Baskaran

High Fructose corn syrup(HFCS) is a combination of fructose(in high quantity) and glucose, that is manufactured from corn. The controversy is that critics say that HFCS unlike table sugar (sucrose) is more damaging to our health. However others oppose this opinion saying that there is no evidence that HFCS is worse than sugar.

HFCS was only produced in the 70s. The fact is, since 1970 we are eating much more HFCS than ever before in human history. This is because it is cheaper to produce and very versatile. HFCS is so ubiquitous, it is virtually impossible to avoid. It is found in soft drinks, packaged biscuits, condiments, jams, fast foods, low fat packaged food, cereals etc.

Critics of HFCS point out that there is an increase in diabetes and obesity which correlates with the rise of HFCS use. There are several studies in rats and humans that suggest that HFCS increases obesity and have worse blood tests outcomes compared to sucrose. Some suggest that HFCS when taken does not give a sensation of fullness and so we can consume more of it. However the studies are not conclusive and many studies also come up with different conclusions. The American Medical Association says that the evidence of HFCS being worse than sucrose is not confirmatory and more research is required.

Whether or not it is worse than table sugar is not that important. There is no dispute that HFCS is bad news. We take so much of it daily that it causes a major shift of our lipid levels to the dangerous form which includes high triglycerides. Such a lipid profile increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. HFCS can cause liver abnormality, called `fatty liver' or NAFLD (non alcoholic fatty liver disease). We now know that NAFLD can be a serious disease than can causes scarring of the liver and liver dysfunction. HFCS also causes insulin to be less effective (insulin resistance) and a condition called metabolic syndrome. Even gout is an effect of HFCS.

Too much of HFCS and even glucose has caused so much preventable health problems. I urge you to look after yourself and your family by avoiding foods with HFCS such as sugared drinks, fast food, processed biscuits and sweets. Read food labels.

For more info on HFCS, please click here.

New Pneumococcal Vaccine Available!

2010-04-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

We have just received our first batch of the new Pneumoccocal Vaccine, Synflorix which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

The new vaccine will cover 3 more serotypes of the pneumoccocal bacteria as well as provide additional protection against middle ear infection. Like humans beings where there are Chinese, Indian, Malay, Europeans etc, the Pneumococcal Bacteria also has different "races" which are known as serotypes. There are many serotypes of the Pneumoccocal bacteria and the scientists have designed this new vaccine to cover 10 serotypes that are most responsible for causing disease. The previous vaccine covered 7 serotypes. This new one will cover the previous 7 plus an additional 3 more serotypes. In addition, it will also provide coverage for middle ear infections.

If you have already started on the old vaccine, then you should continue with the old one, because it is not interchangable for the first three jabs. You can opt to give the new vaccine as a booster dose ie as the last jab when the baby becomes one year old. Giving Synflorix as the booster will confer some protection against the additional 3 serotypes.

The good news is that this new jab is cheaper than the previous jab. At Karri Family Clinic, our price for Synflorix is $140 per dose. This includes GST as well as consultation fees. For babies starting their vaccine packages at 2 months of age, you can buy the package of four vaccine at $540 which works out to be $135 per dose.

Synflorix has already been launched in other countries and so far there has been no major concerns about its safety and effectiveness. We will continue to stock the old vaccine, Prevenar, at our clinic so that you have a choice of which vaccine you want to use.

More information about Synflorix can be found here:

Easter Opening Times

2010-03-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

The clinic will be closed on Good Friday.

Clinic hours as usual on Saturday and Sunday.

We wish all Christians a Blessed Easter!

Chickenpox: Update on the boy with complications

2010-03-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

Chickenpox Scarring

Remember the boy who suffered from the severe case of Chickenpox? The good news is that it did not turn out to be meningitis, but the Chickenpox did leave him with a very bad scar to remind him of the entire ordeal.

He had spent one week at KK Hospital where various tests were done to determine the severity of the infection. The pox just in front of the ear had gotten infected, so he had to be put on antibiotics and they had to perform ultrasound imaging to see the extent of the infection which had caused him not to be able to turn his neck.

After one week at KK, he was discharged but still had to be followed up by the paediatrician and had to be continued on antibiotics. This picture is taken recently, one month after the initial Chickenpox infection and I have just certified that he was able to return to school.

I had another Chickenpox case recently where a distraught mom recounted how she had left her child with the in-laws while she was overseas and during the time, her in-laws had another grandchild who had chickenpox and purposely exposed her child to the affected kid. Subsequently, her child had chickenpox which left her with some scarring!

Please remember that though Chickenpox is a mild disease most of the time, it can still cause serious infection. So please don't endorse the idea of Chickenpox parties and subject your child to the disease thinking that it is a way of getting them immne naturally to Chickenpox. You will never forgive yourself if your child landed in hospital because of severe complications. A better and far safer method is to give your child the Chickenpox vaccine and do also consider giving your child a second dose of the vaccine if you want to confer an higher level of protection.

Rotarix: HSA assures us that it is safe

2010-03-23T17:48:00.001-07:00

By now you might have heard of the news of the concern over the Rotarix Vaccine containing some pig virus. Both GSK, the manufacturer and all the leading authorities have looked at the matter and assured us that despite containing the virus, the vaccine is still safe for consumption.

Of course, I know that a lot of parents will still be very concerned about this issue. I would too.

I have spoken to the people at GSK and the way I interpret the situation is as follows. The virus concerned is normally found in pigs and is even found in the pork that is sold for consumption. Due to some new methods of surveillance, they detected fragments of the virus in Rotarix. The scientists are currently investigating how this viral fragment got into the manufacturing process since there is no use of animal parts.

Rotarix is not a vaccine that is injected into the body, but rather taken orally. We know that consumption of the virus does not affect humans, since we would also inadvertantly eat the virus when we eat pork. In fact the virus is not known to cause any disease in pigs or human. Furthermore, it is not the whole virus that is present, but only a fragment of the virus. So if you follow this logic, it should still be safe for babies to be given the vaccine.

So, what should you do?

At this point in time, Rotarix is not a compulsory vaccine, so the decision to give or not to give it is up to the parents. Since the first dose of Rotarix needs to be given before 14 weeks of age, if your baby is still very young, you can perhaps wait for further news on the subject before deciding. On the other hand, one has to still keep in mind that Rotarix has been very useful in preventing severe diarrhoea in babies and so its benefits still outweigh the risks.

I will keep everyone informed of the news about this subject as it unfolds. In the meantime, you might also want to check out the press release by GSK by clicking here.

MMR Vaccine does not cause Autism

2010-03-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine which was introduced in the 70's has resulted in the dramatic decrease in what used to be the very common childhood diseases of Measles, Mumps and Rubella. I even remember having Measles and Mumps as a child myself, but nowadays you don't see kids with these conditions in the clinic.

Over the past decade, there has been concerns about a possible link between the MMR vaccine and Autism. This was the result of a paper published in 1998 in the British Journal "The Lancet" It has since been shown that the whole thing was a sham. Here is the excerpt from Wikipaedia:

Claims of a connection between the vaccine and autism were raised in a 1998 paper in the respected British medical journal The Lancet.[3] It was later discovered that Andrew Wakefield, the paper's lead author, had received major funding from British trial lawyers seeking evidence against vaccine manufacturers.[4] Ten of the paper's twelve coauthors retracted its interpretation of an association between MMR vaccine and autism.[5] It was also discovered that Wakefield had previously filed for a patent on a rival vaccine using technology that lacked scientific credibility, and that Wakefield knew but did not publish test results that contradicted his theory by showing that no measles virus was found in the children tested.[6] In 2009, The Sunday Times reported that Wakefield had manipulated patient data and misreported results in his 1998 paper, creating the appearance of a link with autism.[7] A special court convened in the United States to review claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ruled on February 12, 2009 that parents of autistic children are not entitled to compensation in their contention that certain vaccines caused autism in their children.[8][9] The Lancet fully retracted the 1998 paper on February 2, 2010.[10]

Following the 1998 publication, there has been many large epidemiological studies conducted to look into the safety of the MMR vaccine. All of these studies concluded that the MMR vaccine was safe. I recently read one of the papers published by the Cochrane Collaboration in 2008. This paper reviewed all the previous studies conducted on the safety of the MMR vaccine and concluded that there was no link between MMR and Autism. The following the summary of the paper:

I hope this short post will give parents a better understanding of issues behind the MMR/Autism link. I think there is very good evidence to show that the MMR vaccine is safe and benefits far outweigh the risk. At this point in time, there is no reason to believe that giving the MMR vaccine will cause the child to develop Autism.

Dadsforlife: Photography workshop for Dads

2010-03-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

Karri Family Clinic's philosophy is to look after the family in a holistic manner. That means that we don't just treat your family's health problems, we also want to promote family harmony and values.

So I am now supporting the Dadsforlife movement which serves to spur all daddies to be even better daddies. Dadsforlife has organized many events during the upcoming holidays, but I want to highlight one which I am personally involved in.

If you have been wanting to learn to take better photos of your kids, do sign up for the free workshop during the school holidays from 19 to 21 March organized by Dadsforlife.sg with the support from Canon, Singapore. I will be the instructor for the events on 19th and 21st March.

Fathers can bring the children down to one of the three locations during the holidays where you can attend the seminar and then put your new skills to work taking photos of your kids! At the same time, there will be professional photographers around where you can have a free portrait taken of you with your children!

Details:

19th Mar at Fort Canning Park, 1.30pm (My session)
20th Mar at Marina Barage, 1.30pm
21 Mar at Singapore Discovery Centre, 1.30pm (My session)
Admission: Free but seats are limited so please register early

You can register by clicking here.
More information at Dadsforlife.sg website here.

Karri Family Clinic is now on Facebook!

2010-03-07T06:24:00.001-08:00

One of our patients pointed out to me that it would be very convenient if they could read my updates on facebook too. So I have now created the Karri Family Clinic Facebook page and invite everyone to join as a fan!

Karri Family Clinic

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Chickenpox: Complications do occur, Parents please vaccinate your kids!

2010-02-23T00:15:00.000-08:00

I had hope that I would never have to see a severe chickenpox case but it was only a matter of time before it happened.

This boy came to the clinic today with severe Chickenpox which had gotten infected. What is more serious is that he was also complaining of neck stiffness. So I had to send them immediately to KKH to investigate for possible Chickenpox meningitis.

To all parents who are reading this post. Please don't think that Chickenpox is something every child needs to get. If this child had been given the Chickenpox vaccine, there is a good chance that he would never get Chickenpox and in the 20% of cases where they still get Chickenpox after vaccination, it would never have gotten to this stage of severity.

I am following the case closely. If the KKH doctors also suspect meningitis, then they would do a lumbar puncture where a long needle is inserted into the lower back to extract some of the cerebro-spinal fluid to confirm if the virus has infected the brain. Please pray that this is not the case. Chickenpox meningitis can sometimes leave the child with some long term side effects with regards to mental ability.

Concerning the booster dose for Chickenpox. I have already written about this in my previous post. The 2nd dose of Chickenpox vaccine is currently the standard practise in the US, but the practise is not yet adopted in Singapore. Parents can still opt for a booster dose after the first dose in order to give your child a higher level of protection.

Again, parents, please be aware of this and make a wise decision for your child based on facts and not on hearsay.

Chinese New Year Opening Times

2010-02-11T18:09:00.000-08:00

We wish all our friends a very Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year!

Our Clinic will be closed for the first 3 days of the New Year from 14 to 16 Feb.

Chickenpox: Does your child need a booster?

2010-02-03T04:24:00.000-08:00

We are currently experiencing an outbreak of Chickenpox at one of the childcare centres in the area and a few of the children are experiencing breakthrough chickenpox even after they had their first Chickenpox vaccination.

Please note that no vaccine is 100% effective and evidence has shown that even after the first vaccination, approximately 2 in 10 kids may still contract Chickenpox. We call this "breakthrough" chicken pox. Breakthrough Chickenpox is often a milder form of the disease and usually does not last as long as compared to kids who have not been vaccinated.

Because of this, the US has been advising parents to give their kids a booster jab ie, the doctors in the US are now giving children 2 jabs instead of one. The second jab is to be given at least 3 months after the first one. In Singapore, the MOH has not recommended a booster Chickenpox jab yet.

*Note that even if the child has been exposed to kids with chickenpox, the vaccine has been shown to be effective if given within 72 hours of exposure.

Since it is less than 2 weeks to the Chinese New Year, many of our parents are very stressed since they have already made plans to go overseas or even just the fact that they will not be able to do their customary visitations.

If your child has not yet taken the chickenpox vaccination, please do consider bringing them to the clinic for a jab. If your child has already taken the first jab, you might want to consider taking a second one to give them a higher level of protection. After the first jab the protection level is around 80%. This increases to more than 90% after the 2nd jab.

Chickenpox is usually a mild disease, but it can be very stressful if it disrupts your travel plans! We even have mothers who are pregnant who have to make special arrangements to isolate themselves from their children!

You can read more about the recommendation from the US CDC by clicking here.

Job Vacancies available: Clinic Assistants

2010-01-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

We are currently looking for Clinic Assistants who will be able to work the evening shift including Sunday evenings.

Applicants should have experience working in a family clinic, have good interpersonal skills and be familiar with registration and dispensing of medications.

If you are interested, please write to leslie.tay@gmail.com with your resume or call the clinic at 67850311

Anti Aging: Red Bull? Try some Testosterone instead!

2009-12-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

Men, as you get older, are you feeling that you are always tired and that your body isn't performing as well as it was when you were twenty one? Well, one of the things that happen as you age is that your testosterone levels drop and that might be the cause of your problem.

Dr Suren specializes in this area and we are starting Anti Aging Clinics where we can help you maintain vitality as you age. Of course we will also be looking at menopausal issues and helping women age gracefully, but for today, we will talk about men first.

Below is an article by Dr Suren on what happens when men age.

Testosterone: It is not just about SEX

Testosterone is the main sex hormone produced by the testes. Testosterone together with it's derivatives, estradiol(E2) and dihydro testosterone (DHT) act directly on diverse target organs such as the sex organs, bones, muscles, blood-forming tissue, the brain,skin and hair. Thus, testosterone has a vital role in proper function of multiple systems in our body.

As men age, the levels of testosterone will fall. At age 70 the testosterone level is only 30% of the peak at age 25. Late onset hypogonadism, also known as andropause usually starts after age 40. It is characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, lack of energy, low mood. There can be loss of muscles, increase of fats especially in the abdomen, decreased exercise capacity and endurance. Of course there can be loss of sexual interest and erection difficulties.

Andropause is now recognized as a serious health problem. The good news is that we are able to treat it and reverse many of the above problems.

Prevalence of hypogonadism ( Low levels of testosterone)

The prevalence of andropause is from 6 to 13% in those aged between 40 – 69 years old. Prevalence increases with age. (1)

Testosterone deficiency is associated with Diabetes

Testosterone deficiency plays a central role in the cause of Type 2 diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance. It contributes to the accumulation of abdominal fat. This abdominal fat is an active endocrine organ producing chemicals (cytokines) that cause inflammation such as causing abnormal lining of the blood vessels. Testosterone treatment of hypo gonadal men improves diabetes.(2)

Testosterone restoration improves muscle strength

Replacement of testosterone increased fat-free mass, muscle size and strength in hypo gonadal men. (3) Oral testosterone treatment in diabetic men with deficiency improves body composition, decrease abdominal fat, improves glucose homeostasis and improves erectile dysfunction. (4)

Optimal testosterone levels associated with better cognitive function

One study showed that older men with high testosterone and low estrogen level performed better in several tests of cognitive function. (5)

Low testosterone is associated with poor cholesterol and potential risk to heart health

Low testosterone is associate with high total and bad (LDL) cholesterol. The lining of the blood vessels are also slightly damaged, making it prone to accumulate fatty plaques. Also due to the association with obesity and poor glucose control, low testosterone can affect the heart health.(6)

Should you have testosterone restoration?

There is convincing evidence of the benefits of testosterone replacement. Before starting we recommend that you speak to us, so that we can ascertain that you do indeed have andropause. We will then do a blood test of your hormones for confirmation.

Are there any risks of restoration?

Some researchers have warned that restoration can be a risk of aggravating prostate cancer. As we become more familiar with testosterone replacement we belief the risk of prostate cancer is very low. There is no scientific evidence that testosterone supplement increased the risk of prostate cancer.(7) Nevertheless we will still do a blood test before and after treatment to make sure that we do not put the patient at any risk.

Testosterone restoration can also increase the red blood cell count. This is easily detected and effectively treated without any risk to the patient.

What do I do now, if I want to check for andropause?

Dr Suren Baskaran now conducts special clinics for this condition. If you wish to check for andropause, just call us for an appointment.

References

1. Araujo Ab et al. Prevalence and incidence of andropause deficiency in middle aged and older men. J Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism 2004 Dec;89(12):5920-6.

2. Traish. The dark side of testosterone def II. J Androl 2009;30:23-32.

3. Bhasin S. et al. Testosterone replacement increases fat-free mass and muscle size in hypo gonadal men. J Clin Metab. 1997 Feb;82(2):407-13.

4. Boyanov MA et al. Testosterone supplementation in men with T2D, visceral obesity and partial androgen deficiency. Aging Male. 2003 Mar;6(1):1-7

5. Barrett-Connor E et al. Endogenous sex hormones and cognitive function in older men. J Clin Endocrinology Metab 1999 Oct;84(10):3681-5

6. Traish et al. The dark side of Testosterone deficiency III. J Androl 2009;30:477-94

7. Morgentaler A. Testosterone replacement therapy and prostate risks. Can J Urol.2006 Feb;13 Suppl 1:40-3

Winners of the "Why our patients choose Karri Family Clinic" Baby Photo Contest

2009-12-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to everyone who sent in the photos of their kids and emailed to tell us why you choose Karri Family Clinic to provide for your family's healthcare needs!

I had a difficult time choosing the top ten winners as the entries were all very good. But after much deliberation, here are the ten winners of the Baby IQ DVD sets.For those who did not win the DVD sets, not to worry. Abbott has kindly sponsored some consolation prizes as well.

All winners will be notified by email concerning the collection of prizes.

Many thanks to Abbott for sponsoring the photo contest.

"After Charlotte was born, we were trying to find a good family doctor that could look after our family healthcare needs instead of randomly visiting clinics that were nearby. We felt that Dr Tay really gets to know his patients and most importantly, he listens to us. Being a first time parent, my husband and I tend to ask many questions during Charlotte’s consultations; Dr Tay answered all our doubts and helped us make the right health care decisions. Besides all these, we were able to get updated medical information on the clinic’s website even with comments answered. We thank God that we were able to find Karri Family Clinic to be our family doctor."

Kristine Chan

"I have 2 princess Soo Ning (3years) and En Ning (5.5mths) and found Dr Tay by chance on a Sunday night. Dr Tay is very friendly and so different from the usual clinic that my princess are happy going in. After visiting the clinic, Soo Ning can talk about what went on in the clinic. The best was the anti-biotic which Dr Tay gave her once, that was a nice and effective formula that I have no problem feeding her. She also remembers that. Now if she needs to see doctor, we will ask her where she wants to go and she will reply Dr Tay. Isn't that sweet? The price is very reasonable as well and best of all it opens on Sunday night. Another great thing, Dr Tay is a blogger and I get informative news regularly which is great especially on the recent H1N1 vaccine which no one has mentioned before on the 10 Dose Vials. I must also say that your effort together with other doctors/committee members to push Pnemococcal has finally seen effort."

Celine Ng

"It's hard not to smile whenever I see my baby girl Chloe's inquisitive expression. She is so eager to try everything that I have to be mindful of her health and what she comes in contact with. I choose Karri for Chloe and my older son Kaden as their healthcare needs are comprehensively covered and the environment is inviting to my kids. It's so much more convenient for us to be at Karri than going to KKH and polyclinics - it's not easy to bring two cranky kids for medical treatment. There is also a sense of assurance when our queries are addressed by Dr Leslie Tay.

thank you!"

Yvonne Wong

"I choose Karri Family Clinic because the Resident Family Doctor is Dr
Leslie Tay !!

I come across Karri Family Clinic by chance while surfing the web to search
for another GP in Tampines area because my 6 month old baby girl was down with flu and the nearby clinic that my family had been seeing was closed for holiday trip.

After the 1st visit to Dr Tay, I had decided that I will send my girls to him for vaccination and future consultation (despite that fact it’s located at the other side of the town). Dr Tay is a very caring and experienced doctor that has his way with baby and kids, both my girls are very comfortable with him. By the way, my elder daughter aged 4 was so proud when she saw her family doctor appears on TV!"

Jessica Lai

"We choose Karri Family Clinic because of the service, real time health advisory and especially the assurance that my Family's health (especially my baby) is in good hands. It's hard to find a clinic now a days that will makes you feel secured it terms of your health, but Karri Family Clinic did it. Thanks and More power."

Herole Tunggol

"Before I visited Dr. Leslie, I had went to a few pediatricians in the east area of Singapore; but the way Dr. Leslie treated my kids are a little different from the others. He knows how to capture the kids attention and made the trip to the clinic as wonderful as going to the minimart. Now, I do not have a hard time bringing my two lilitle princesses to the clinic. My elder daughter (4 years old) is no longer afraid of going to the clinic and my younger one, well she is just 11 months old so she did not say anything.
I just would like to thank Dr. Leslie to ease the difficulty and made the trip to the clinic for my kids, a wonderfull one!"
Hardi de Janaiero

"I had chosen Karri Family Clinic because it is near my house. My baby was just three months old and I wanted to save travelling time and to allow my baby to reach home quickly after each doctor’s visit. This decision turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I came to know Dr Leslie Tay. Dr Tay changed my mindset on the role of a doctor. His personality and ever readiness to share medical knowledge impresses me. Dr Tay is a doctor that builds relationship and is passionate about his work His method of administering vaccinations for babies also amazes me. He would hum a tune and then swiftly complete the vaccination, before my baby could react. Dr Tay also airs his views honestly encouraging me to sign up for a Pneumococcal vaccination for my baby. I am glad that I have chosen Karri Family Clinic for my baby"

Andrea Ang

We came to know Karri Family Clinic through internet where it located in Tampines. We found out the clinic once you step in, it has a warm atmosphere adult c& kids corner. “As you won’t feel like just consult, pay and go”. Karri unlike many clinic it have consultation medical services includes various health topics, latest widespread diseases precaution health care measures & information, using technology like “BLOGS” published on website. As you can feel personal touch consultation services. Whenever our baby boy injection vaccine, given with care thoughts to distract the pain. We feel that Dr. Tay not only have family care thoughts and warmly attention services. Best of all is quick, informative short consultation time for adults or children and moreover from young to elderly are well take care of their medical needs. Warmest Regards,

Vincent ONG

Few weeks ago, we were browsing thru the net searching for some baby information.
We happened to see Karri family Clinic website. The website caught me by surprise as I didn’t think that Singapore GP do provide such a good service and very informative blog.
Whenever our girls fall sick, we would take them to Pediatrician Clinic and the medical bill doesn’t come cheap.

Although Karri Family Clinic location is a bit out of place for us, we would definitely visit it if there is a need. We love the consultation hours especially on Sunday evenings. The best part is this GP accepted Baby Bonus card which most of the GPs don’t and the charges are much more affordable to us.

Our first visit to Karri Family Clinic on 20 Nov 09 (Sunday) was an impressive one.
The place was indeed cozy, warm and doesn’t look at all like a GP Clinic to us.
Dr Tay is not just a doctor but rather a Godly doctor to us. He knows how to handle kids well, especially when my girl tensed up during his session.. He would take the effort to blow balloon and show his toys to my girl. We appreciate these little gestures from him.
It’s really a blessing to us to know this clinic.

Verlyn Yeo

"We choose Karri Family Clinic because Dr Tay takes good care of all of us. When he gives my little brother his vaccinations he does it so quickly that me brother only cries for a while. Dr Tay does not give us antibiotics unnecessarily when we have coughs and colds. The best thing about coming to visit Dr Tay is that he gives us lightsticks after seeing him."

Carol Ng

H1N1 Vaccine is now approved for kids from 6 months of age

2009-12-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

MOH has just approved the use of the H1N1 vaccine for children from 6 months onwards.

Children from 6 months to 3 years of age will need 2 half doses one month apart.

Those from 3 yrs to 10 years will need 2 full doses one month apart.

We currently have stock of the Panvax H1N1 vaccine which is the individual shots that do not contain mercury. These are $30 nett. The Panvax H1N1 vaccine is the one that the MOH has approved for use in children as they are satisfied with the safety of the vaccine.

You can read more about the announcement on Channel News Asia.

H1N1 Vaccine: New Stock has arrived

2009-12-03T17:13:00.000-08:00

By now you would have heard that the H1N1 vaccine has been approved for 10 year olds and above and the good news is that our new stock of vaccines have just arrived so we have enough for walk in patients.

There has been some concern about the safety of the vaccines. This pertains to the older 10 doses per vial vaccine. The vaccine we stock is Panvax from CSL labs which is the individual vaccine that does not contain mercury. So far, we have received little complaints from our patients. I personally have administered the vaccine to my own left arm and all I had was a bit of pain over the injection site for 2 days. (Yes, I did it Rambo style and injected myself)

The other question that often gets asked is whether you should take the seasonal flu vaccine or the H1N1 vaccine. The best answer is that you should take both. Both vaccines can be given at the same time. If you have to choose one, I would advise young adults to take the H1N1 vaccine because there has been some concern that the H1N1 virus is somehow more virulent amongst young adults with several deaths occurring amongst otherwise fit young adults.

Our price for the Panvax is $30. Do ring up first to check for stock availability.

Hari Raya Haji Opening Times:

2009-11-25T02:36:00.000-08:00

We wish all our muslim friends a very good Hari Raya Haji.

Our clinic will be opened on Hari Raya Haji from 8.30am to 12.30pm. The night clinic will be closed.

The opening hours on Saturday and Sunday are unchanged.

H1N1 Vaccine: Individual Vaccines Now Available

2009-11-23T03:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your patience.

We have received our batch of H1N1 vaccines today.

These are the Panvax H1N1 Vaccine manufactured by CSL Ltd and as previously discussed, these individual vaccines do not contain the preservative thiomersal.

The vaccines are $30 nett and includes the vaccination fees.

If you have booked your vaccine, please call in to confirmed that you are still coming for the vaccine. If you don't claim the vaccines by 30 Nov, we will release them to the other patients.

Submit a photo of your baby and win a set of Baby IQ DVDs!

2009-11-18T17:06:00.000-08:00

I am running a competition to give away 10 Baby IQ DVD sets. Every set comprise of 5 DVDs designed to encourage talk naturally in an interactive learning experience for parent and child. The DVDs are filmed in HD and the music is performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Each set is worth $100 and more information about Baby IQ can be found here.

In order to win a set of this DVD, all you have to do is to submit a photo of your baby and tell us why you and your family choose Karri Family Clinic to look after your family's healthcare needs.

Here are the competition details:

1. Submit a photo of your baby resized to 1000 pixels

2. Write in 100 - 150 words why you choose Karri Family Clinic

3. Send your entry to leslie.tay@gmail.com

4. In the title write "Baby IQ contest"

5. The closing date is 6 Dec 2009

6. The ten winners will be notified by email

7. Winners will collect their DVD sets at the clinic.

8. The photos of the babies and the comments may be subsequently published on this website

9. This competition is opened to all patients of the clinic with young children. The photo can be one taken when your child was a baby.

I look forward to seeing your photos!

This competition has been made possible through sponsorship by Abbott.