Distinct Clinic Singapore

Key Health Milestones: Ages 0–4

Each stage centres on vaccination + developmental check-up. Follow your child's Health Booklet.

The Singapore government issues a Health Booklet for every child. Doctors record all vaccines and growth data inside — and it's required for primary school registration. Keep it safe from birth and bring it to every visit.

Milestone Schedule (NCIS 2022 Updated)

Birth

At Birth

Before Hospital Discharge

BCG Hepatitis B (Dose 1)

Typically administered during the hospital stay. Nurses will confirm before discharge.

month

First Clinic Visit

Hepatitis B (Dose 2) Growth & Development Check

Weight, height, and head circumference are measured. Doctor assesses early development.

months

5-in-1 Vaccine Begins

DTaP-IPV-Hib (Dose 1) PCV13 (Dose 1) Rotavirus (Oral, 1st)

Multiple vaccines in one visit — mild fever is a normal reaction and will resolve on its own.

4–5

months

Second Round

DTaP-IPV-Hib (Dose 2) PCV13 (Dose 2) Hepatitis B (Dose 3) Rotavirus (Oral, 2nd)

months

Half-Year Check-Up

PCV13 (Dose 3) Development Assessment

The Health Booklet contains parent self-check prompts for preliminary home assessments.

months

First Birthday — Critical Milestone

MMR Dose 1 (MANDATORY) Varicella (Dose 1) 1-Year Full Assessment

The Measles component of MMR is a legally mandatory vaccine. It must be given after the child's first birthday to be valid — any earlier doses require catch-up vaccination.

months

15-Month Boosters

MMR (Dose 2) Varicella (Dose 2) PCV13 (Dose 4 — Booster)

months

5-in-1 Booster + Developmental Review

DTaP-IPV-Hib (Booster) Language & Motor Assessment

Doctor evaluates speech development, walking ability, and other key developmental milestones.

4–6

years

Pre-School Boosters — Required Before Kindergarten

DTaP-IPV (Booster) Diphtheria Booster (MANDATORY) Pre-School Health Exam

Diphtheria is the second legally mandatory vaccine in Singapore. Confirm the full series is complete before school enrolment.

Singapore's 2 Legally Mandatory Vaccines:
① Measles (MMR) — must be administered after the child's first birthday to be valid. Doses given earlier require a catch-up shot.
② Diphtheria — the full vaccination series must be completed. Confirm before school enrolment.
Parents should cross-check their child's Health Booklet to ensure both vaccines are correctly documented.

Health Booklet tip: The booklet includes regular developmental self-check reminders. Parents can use these for a preliminary home assessment between clinic visits — and discuss any observations at the next appointment.

Two Key Questions Every New Mom Asks

Where to go — and what to bring?

Question 1: Polyclinic or Private Paediatric Clinic?

Feature	Polyclinic (Public Primary Care)	Private Paediatric Clinic
Best for	Recommended SG citizens & PR babies	Recommended Expat babies & busy parents
Cost	Subsidised for citizens/PR — check-up ~$5–10, Medisave applicable	Fully self-paid; each vaccine ~$30–100, no subsidy
Booking	Must book via HealthHub App; walk-ins wait 2–3 hours	Same-day booking usually available, short wait times
Language	Primarily English / Malay	Some clinics offer Mandarin; more consultation time
For expat babies	No subsidy — cost similar to private	No subsidy, but more flexible and comfortable

Question 2: Three Essentials to Bring Every Time

Child's Health BookletDoctors record vaccines and growth data inside. Required for school registration — keep it safe and bring it every time.
Baby's ID documentSG citizens/PR: bring NRIC or birth certificate. Expats: bring passport and Dependant Pass (DP).
Appointment confirmation (screenshot on your phone)Polyclinics require your appointment reference number to collect a queue ticket. Save the screenshot before heading out.

Missed an Appointment? Don't Panic.

The schedule is flexible — catch-up vaccinations are straightforward

It's okay — just reschedule

If your baby was unwell, or life simply got in the way, missing a vaccine or check-up is not a crisis. Contact your clinic and book a catch-up appointment.

Your doctor will adjust the vaccination schedule to your child's current age. Missing the 4-month vaccine and getting it at 5 months is equally effective — there is no need to restart the schedule from the beginning.

After each visit, the nurse or doctor will book your next appointment automatically. Just show up, and everything else follows.

One important exception: the Measles vaccine must be given after the child's first birthday to count as valid. If a dose was administered before age 1, it must be repeated. Please check your Health Booklet carefully.

Disclaimer & Credits

This article was initially drafted with AI assistance, refined by our editorial team, and finalised following professional review by Distinct Healthcare physicians.

This is original content by Distinct Healthcare, provided for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. For personalised guidance, please consult a qualified paediatrician.

Contact: health_content@distincthealth.com

Produced by: Distinct Healthcare · Health Express Team Editorial: Health Express Editorial Team Medical Review: Distinct Healthcare Physician Team