I finally got around to calling my pediatrician about flu shots the other day. I was pretty sure I knew the answer and there it was: no flu shots and no swine flu shots and no appointments or waiting lists for the future.
My older son R. applauded when he found out. But I’m concerned. In the past, my kids have always been at the top of the list for the shots because they have asthma. But not this year.
Mind you, it’s an ordeal giving them flu shots. When they were younger, they screamed their heads off and they’re still far from stoic about getting the shots.
We always have a conversation that goes like this. Me: “You’re going to the doctor today.” Them: “Are we getting shots?” Me; “Um – yes.” Them: “No, we’re not.” Me: “Yes, you are.”
I win that argument but only after all but carrying them into the waiting room. One year I got my husband to go with them and he never wants to go again.
Still, I worry about my kids getting the flu this season. They both get those terrible coughs that won’t go away. W. is worse. He gets really sick and just a couple of years ago he had pneumonia.
I asked the cranky nurse at my pediatrician’s office whether there was any exception for kids with asthma. I figured it was worth a shot. But she was clearly tired of talking about it. When I asked if there was a waiting list, she just told me to go to the website.
When I went to the website, it explained that they are out of shots and that they are not taking appointments until they get the shots. I guess the nurse got tired of explaining that to me and I don’t blame her.
Mostly, I feel a little guilty about not jumping to get the shots a month or so ago. Now I’ll be berating myself if my kids get sick this winter.
I feel a little better knowing that thousands of other parents are in the same boat and if I’m honest, I have to admit that part of me is glad to put off doing something that makes my kids act like I’m sending them to the torture chamber.
But when those shots come in, we’ll be among the first to line up. I’ve spent the winter with sick kids for weeks on end and if there’s any chance I can avoid that fate, I’m taking it, screaming kids or no screaming kids.
