When we moved from France to Finland, our baby was only six weeks old. \u00a0When we realized that it’s time for vaccination, he was almost ten weeks. \u00a0In Finland, the vaccination program includes a Rotavirus vaccine at two months. \u00a0Therefore, I went to the close-by health station to figure out how to get the vaccine. \u00a0I was told to call a number, later I realized the number was for making an appointment at the public neuvola. \u00a0After I made the phone call, actually several calls, I found a big issue – our son can not use the public neuvola without the KELA card! \u00a0It seems that they also called the KELA office to find out my husband’s situation to determine whether our son has the right to use the\u00a0public neuvola. \u00a0And the answer was, unfortunately, NO.<\/p>\n
They suggested me to look for private hospitals. \u00a0I called one (Terveystalo) that is not very far from our home. \u00a0I found another issue – they require ID number! \u00a0Our son only had a Japanese passport at that time. \u00a0We planned to apply for the residence permit (which has the ID number) for him in Finland. \u00a0Somehow I thought that he did not need a residence permit, that we just needed to register him at the Population Register Centre (Maistraatti). \u00a0I was WRONG! \u00a0He needs a residence permit! \u00a0Unlike in Paris, the queue is very long. \u00a0The earliest appointment we could get is six weeks after. \u00a0(So, if you want to apply for a residence permit in Finland, you’d better plan early!)<\/p>\n
Anyway, can we register our son, in other words, get the ID number without a residence permit? \u00a0Yes, but they require a legalized birth certificate – Apostille stamped birth certificate. \u00a0We did Apostille before, for the Japanese family book. \u00a0Since the language is Japanese, it was done in Japan. \u00a0And it’s very expensive! \u00a0The Apostille itself costed about $300, not to say the shipping and waiting. Unfortunately, that family book was done before our son was born \ud83d\ude41 \u00a0 Should we do the Apostille in the same way again? \u00a0If so, we have to translate the French birth certificate into Japanese first… \u00a0Long waiting, and another $300! \u00a0Why don’t we get Apostille from France? \u00a0Our friends in France helped us to ask the local office, and told us how to get the Apostille, for free! \u00a0It was actually very simple. \u00a0We just had to request the Apostille from the Hotel de Ville where we got the birth certificate. \u00a0They won’t charge anything, and they would even mail the Apostille to us. \u00a0Sounds terrific! \u00a0So we did it. \u00a0After just one week we got the letter from the French office. \u00a0Without checking carefully, we immediately went to the\u00a0Maistraatti in Helsinki. \u00a0Who would know that the French office forgot to stamp the Apostille?! \u00a0What a surprise! \u00a0But… emmm… probably not that surprising considering who they are. \u00a0They often make me speechless. \u00a0Luckily, our friends in France also requested Apostille for us, and he got it right! \u00a0So he mailed the correct copy to us. \u00a0Another week passed by, and the Apostille stamped birth certificate was finally in my hand.<\/p>\n
Again, we immediately took the Apostille to the\u00a0Maistraatti. \u00a0This time, we could register our son (finally!). \u00a0The problem was it would take about three weeks for us to get the ID number. \u00a0In that case, our son would miss the first a few vaccinations. \u00a0 I wrote a short note explaining why we needed the ID number as quick as possible. \u00a0The clerk said she would ask the manager. \u00a0With hope, we left. \u00a0While I was feeding my son in Kamppi Center, they called me! I was very excited. \u00a0Yes! \u00a0They processed my son’s application right away, so the registration paper (which has the ID number) was ready to be picked up! Yeah! \u00a0After I got the ID number, I called the private hospital, but it’s already too late. \u00a0OK, tomorrow then.<\/p>\n
The next day, I called the private hospital again, with the ID number at hand. \u00a0I thought everything was ok now. \u00a0However, the nurse answering my call was not sure whether they had the vaccine. \u00a0After serval phone calls, they and I were clear that they could not do vaccination for little babies! \u00a0I wish I found this out earlier.<\/p>\n
So foreigners’ babies can not get vaccines in Finland? \u00a0I don’t believe that. Obviously I was not alone. \u00a0Somebody out there also came across with this issue before. \u00a0Finally, I found Mehilainen. \u00a0Their site in Toolo can do the vaccination! \u00a0I will describe our visit in another post.<\/p>\n
If your baby needs vaccines, make sure s\/he has the ID number. \u00a0If s\/he does not have the KELA card, try\u00a0Mehilainen.<\/p>\n
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Kela Card needed for service at the public neuvola When we moved from France to Finland, our baby was only six weeks old. \u00a0When we realized that it’s time for vaccination, he was almost ten weeks. \u00a0In Finland, the vaccination program includes a Rotavirus vaccine at two months. \u00a0Therefore, I went to the close-by health … <\/p>\n