I just got vaccinated, at the Farmácia Central de Gaia (within sight of our balcony).
Covid in the left arm; Flu in the right arm.
This year Portugal provides it free for ages 60-84, and records it in our online SNS record (called "utente" number), that tracks our prescriptions, vaccinations, and anything done at the public clinics; includes our medical-wishes data (that we just filed a couple weeks ago, the "Rendev" document).
Our visa requires us to have private health insurance, so we use the parallel private system--a Lusíadas clinic is just a few blocks south of us.
We consistently hear that the private system is quicker and nicer, but the public system is better suited for the really serious issues. Of course even the private health care here is much much cheaper than in the US, and all health care here seems to be a quality at least as good, if not better. Two different friends, one US, one UK, with recent hospital & surgery stays, both report that they prefer Portuguese medical care. One noted that the ER here was so much better than what he had experienced in two different hospitals in the US.
The public system, as with most socialized medicine -- such as I experienced as a military family -- is fine, but with very long waiting times.
Now, how will my arms (and my body) react to these two vaccines?
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