2013 influenza shots

Ready to larn their flu shots

To start this off, I am NOT against military machine clinics. I know many people forthwith start looking for the bad when going to a military machine hospital or automatically assume the doctors aren't every bit practiced or whatever. We cause got used 3 military machine handling facilities (MTF) together with thence far in my husband's naval career together with 2 civilian providers, this existence our 3rd MTF. I knew what to expression heading dorsum to the MTF. Before moving here, I was real nervous close moving our asthmatic toddler from our finally pediatrician's office. They were wonderful at that topographic point together with knew his whole history, what his triggers are, what medicines he's been on, etc. They took first-class attention of our boys there, peculiarly O, together with I was nervous to motion correct earlier mutual frigidness together with influenza season. (Read "Reactive airways.")

When I walked into the hospital hither inwards South Carolina, I was impressed. It seriously looks similar a mini Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I have been seen quickly both times I went to the clinic, no long hold off times. The chemist's shop moves correct along together with they cause got a travail upwards window. The staff is great. The lab is quick. They fifty-fifty cause got an electronic mail service that I've used several times. I have sent my Dr. emails that accomplish her nursing staff. They cause got replied to my messages promptly, inside 30-40 minutes or get-go affair the side yesteryear side morn if I sent i at the terminate of work organisation day.

Downside?

It is Oct 23rd together with they even together with thence create non cause got influenza vaccines available to dependents.

There are posters all over the hospital advertising the importance of getting a influenza vaccine together with they still cause got no definite appointment on when influenza shots volition move available to dependents. My PCM fifty-fifty told me, "They say side yesteryear side week, but they've told us 'next week' every week." So I asked her, "Can nosotros larn a referral or prescription together with become out inwards town?" She variety of compaction to a greater extent than or less the bush inwards the component together with I didn't cause got a house I knew nosotros should go, together with thence I didn't press the issue. She did emphasize earlier I left how of import it is for me to larn O his influenza shot since his asthma together with medical history puts him inwards a high peril category.

On piece of work yesteryear of this, South Carolina seems to cause got real foreign laws regarding vaccines for minors. No kid nether the historic catamenia of half dozen (the historic catamenia I heard most consistently from pharmacists) tin larn a vaccine without a prescription from their doctor, pregnant no walk-in influenza shots. I called Walgreen's, Rite Aid, Target, together with local urgent cares. Consistently, nosotros were denied influenza shots for our two together with a one-half twelvemonth olds, some said they would move willing to give our five-year onetime his influenza shot. I fifty-fifty offered to pay out of steal since influenza shots are, what, $15 or $20? No, influenza shots are $31.99 (times three, since nosotros cause got 3 boys), but fifty-fifty paying out of pocket, they even together with thence would non give our toddlers the influenza shot.

I constitute a nearby CVS together with asked the chemist what I had to create to larn our boys, including the toddlers, a influenza shot there. She said, "Oh, only cause got your Dr. shipping over a prescription together with nosotros tin give it to them no problem. We bring Tricare Prime." I went habitation together with messaged my doctor. She sent me dorsum a message this morn denying my request. She told me to bring them to the Health Department.

I ended upwards having to post a thread inwards a wives grouping where mortal tipped me off close CVS's Minute Clinics. I constitute our closest Minute Clinic (a footling over one-half an hr away) together with nosotros all drove over at that topographic point this morning. Here is the link to the Humana website alongside the Minute Clinic information: "Convenient Care May Still Need a Referral." I called Minute Clinic (link to their website: Minute Clinic) together with got specific data close the hospital I was going to bring the boys too, confirming that they would bring Tricare Prime, that they would administer the vaccine to 2 together with a one-half twelvemonth olds, together with that they did cause got children's influenza shots inwards stock. My husband, existence active duty, was already given his influenza shot yesteryear the Navy and, finding this to move quite the ordeal, I had already gone to Target for my influenza shot the calendar week before.

The Minute Clinic has a highly irritating automated answering system. When I finally reached a representative, I was feeling frustrated yesteryear this whole process. The guy on the telephone was genuinely dainty together with real helpful. I genuinely hung upwards smiling, glad to finally cause got somewhere to larn their influenza shots. The adult woman at the Minute Clinic was an angel, seriously. She was together with thence sugariness to our screaming two-year olds together with genuinely managed to give our five-year onetime his shot without him bursting into tears (he has a fearfulness of shots correct now). Getting at that topographic point was challenging, but CVS made the procedure every bit painless every bit possible. We fifty-fifty got a 20% coupon that nosotros used to purchase the boys candy for existence together with thence brave. Even our cashier was sweet, telling the boys how practiced they were.

I am genuinely irritated alongside how our influenza shots were handled at the MTF. I experience similar they cause got basically thrown their hands inwards the air together with said, "Oops! We don't cause got them yet! Gotta wait!" Come to detect out, most of our neighbors create non cause got their influenza shots yet. I've heard from several people that they detect this procedure together with thence irritating that they don't larn them anymore. I cause got never had this experience alongside Tricare, at a unlike MTF, Prime, or Prime Remote. I fifty-fifty asked our Dr. if at that topographic point was an exception for high-risk patients to larn their influenza shots (me together with O) together with she said no.

I'm even together with thence give the MTF a chance. I'm switching PCM's, at to the lowest degree for the kids, together with seeing if at that topographic point is a unlike Dr. that nosotros connect alongside more. Right now, I'm only glad that our whole theatre unit of measurement has their influenza shots!

Here is a link to the immunizations page of the wellness department, yesteryear state: "State Health Department Immunizations Websites."
(Without insurance, influenza shots are $25 at the Health Department inwards South Carolina.)

 

Here is a link to an article I genuinely liked close existence pro-vaccine: "I'm Coming Out... every bit Pro-Vaccine."

 

My weblog post on "RSV together with premature babies," outlining O's 4-day remain inwards the PICU alongside RSV.

 

My weblog post close the "2012-2013 RSV season," when O got the Synagis vaccine.

Share this post