Since the injectable shots that the boys needed were available yesterday, I recruited Auntie Kate and Isabelle to help entertain Liam, Aidan & Connor while we waited. The clinic opened at 4:00, but because there was so much traffic and the clinic's address was not in my gps (or in mapquest for that matter), I got a bit lost and we didn't arrive until 4:30. At that time I learned the clinic's simple process; get a number and when its cluster is called, turn in the bs paperwork and get the shots.
So what numbers were the boys, who arrived 1/2 hour after the clinic's doors opened? 1261, 1262, and 1263! I knew that it was going to be crazy busy, but over 1200 people in the first half an hour!?! Crazy!!!
After doing some investigative work, I learned that they were administering about 300 shots an hour, which would put our turn just after 8:00 (bedtime!). I knew that there was no option to wait and was half tempted to forget the whole thing, but after taking a few deep breaths and discussing it calmly and rationally with Katelyn, we decided to go home and then return a few hours later. I then dropped off our helpers and took the boys home. We then ate dinner, played with some toys, chased each other around the house, got ready for bed, picked up Auntie Kate, and then went back to the clinic for round 2.
We arrived around 7:35, just in time to get in line with the people of the newly called number cluster 1236- 1261, perfect! We then turned in our paperwork, got our shots, and were back in the car 20 minutes later.
All-in-all, the whole process at the clinic took 3 1/2 hours, 4 1/2 hours if I want to include our commuting time (3:40- 8:10). My plan definitely could have gone worse, but it was not flawless. I now have a month to come up with a 'new and improved' plan before we have to do it all again... H1N1 Booster Shots in 30 days. Ugh!!!
If this is what "Universal Health Care" is going to be like, I am not a fan!!!
1 comment:
Luckily the DuPage County Health Dept takes appts. For the kid's first appt, we were in and out within 20 minutes. I've heard it's being held up as an example for the nation. Their second vaccine appt is in 2 weeks.
It should be free from any health department. The government paid for the shots, so any expense from a doctor's office is for administering the shot, not for the shot itself.
I'm glad the boys are protected, even the little bit the first shot will give them!
Love the pictures of the boys playing in the leaves!
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