I was bitten (or scratched) by one of the stray cats I feed outside our apartment.. I was actually not sure because I stepped on her and quickly run away. She was too fast to either bite or scratch me with her paws. See below the step by step procedures that one should follow when going to Ospital ng Makati to get anti-rabies vaccine.
Fall in line in Emergency Room Triage. It takes about 30 minutes of waiting. The guard will ask you to sit in one of the monobloc chairs. It is first come first serve basis unless for patients that obviously need the soonest attention like those who came from ambulance etc.
Once called, you will tell your concern. The attending nurse will get your blood pressure, oxygen level and heart rate. The numbers will be written on the Emergency Room Patient Information Slip that you will continue to fill up.
You will be asked to go to the corner where everyone fills up this paper slip. You will input your personal details and contact information. The most important for me here is if you have a yellow card, check the option for this. You won't pay even a single peso if you have this.
After filling up, bring the form to the second floor of OsMak Annex building.
Facing the ER triage desk, it is in the left side. Show to the guard the form so he or she will stamp you in the opposite of your wrist. This means you are given access inside Ospital ng Makati.
Go to the Animal Bite Treatment Center registration area then show your ER patient information form and your yellow card if you have. They will input your records and give you the hospital wristband. You will then give this slip to the adjacent room where the doctor and nurses giving anti-rabies vaccine operate.
It takes at least an hour or two to wait until you're called. This is my personal experience. I usually go there late afternoon and always see 20-30 people who are also looking to get vaccinated by anti-rabies before me. You have to wait for your name. If it is your first time, you'll be interviewed by the doctor. You will be asked when was the biting of the dog or cat happened. You will be asked to show the wound. You will also answer if it is your own pet or a stray. They ask that it is best to observe the animal for any strange behavior and specifically if it dies.
The nurse gives the shot in a group of 4-5 people. It is very quick. It is painless. You will be asked which arm wound you like it to be injected.
The nurse will give you the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) card containing the brand name of the anti-rabies vaccine given to you. For the first time, you'll be given two shots. The first anti-rabies vaccine out of the total of four shots. You'll also be given an anti-tetanus shot.
This card also shows the dates you have to come back. After the first shot of anti-rabies vaccine, the next one is given on the 3rd, 7th and 14th day. It is important to come bqck to these exact dates because otherwise, you will go back to zero again!
The nurse will give you the ER billing slip. You will go to the Billing Office in the ground floor. You will get your counter ticket number from the queuing machine. Wait for your number to be called usually shown in the screen monitor and announced by the sound speaker. Average time of waiting is 30 minutes.
If you have yellow card, all you have to do is sign up the discharge slip clearing you from any fees to pay. If you don't have one, you will pay for the fees.
During my first time, i was not asked to sign anything but for the three consecutive visits I was asked to sign. I saw my bill total is Php 1, 400+ that was totally free because I got my Makati yellow card.
You will bring your discharge slip to the same nurse who gave your anti-rabies vaccine. She or he will give back your PEP card. By this time, you are done. Go to the guard, hand over your discharge slip. He will remove your hospital wristband.
The nurse told me that in case I got bitten or scratched again within 14 days from my first anti-rabies shot, there is an additional1 anti-rabies booster. If I will be bitten or scratched by a dog or cat after 15 days to 3 years, it is back to zero.
My PEP card also shows that on March 25, 2024 I should get a tetanus booster to be given in nearby health centers. In my case, I will most likely be going to Cembo Health Center which is the nearest in my house address.
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