As far as the swine flu - for some reason California trails the rest of the developed world and is rationing out its H1N1 vaccines. Supply is outstripping demand and those pediatrician offices lucky enough to receive a stash are only handing it out to pregnant women or mothers of little ones under 6 months old. The rest of us have to resort to a scouring of the internet to locate free weekly clinics where the shots are available to the remaining high-risk population - kids between 6 months and 24 years of age. Which begs the question - why the hell are 24 year olds considered high risk - doesn't the fact that they've survived college grant them immunity from all known toxins?
Saeeda found a listing for a clinic that was being offered at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds, so this morning we decided to check things out, hoping to get Nuha vaccinated and then to move on to other errands we had for the day. Oh, how naive we were.
Admittedly, we rolled up to the Fairground at 11am, which we thought was relatively early. But already the line of people stretched outside and wrapped for at least a half-mile outside the parking lot. Families were camped out with lawn chairs, blankets, toys, food - had I not known, I would have guessed it to be a national holiday of some sort, with the families waiting for the parade to start.
I rolled down my car window and asked a departing family how long it had taken them before they received their shot.
"4 hours. We've been here since 7am."
I looked at Saeeda - getting in line now was futile. The wait would be even longer. Maybe not wanting to wait in line would make me a horrible father. But another, more reasonable part of me just said to wait until next week, when we'd be able to properly plan for a clinic and actually show up earlier. With that, I turned the car around to head home.
The Quest to get the H1N1 Vaccine was on.
Perhaps the clinic opened at 11am, and they just got there early like any panicky parent would. You being more logical, 11am was about right. The line was moving smoothly and you'd get the shot in an hour.
ReplyDeleteGood luck. Our entire family of four was laid low by H1N1 in Septebmer, so we are not on the hunt. On one hand, seeing the vaccine shortage makes me relieved that I am spared the search. On the other hand, it was really annoying being hit with it before the flu vaccine was available...
ReplyDeleteMany doctors are making a way just to have a solution for H1N1. To avoid this kind of disease, having a test using ELISA kits is such a nice idea. It helps in determining if you really have this disease.
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