Just a disclaimer, and a reminder, this is just my opinion. I also would like to add that once things hit the level of hype where they have daily trailers on CNN, I stop watching and paying attention. I have a deep seeded hatred for the media and its tendency to turn things into a frenzy. It stems from living in NYC on 9/11 and actually living through the tragedy there. The media was an injustice to what was happening, and so stems my distrust.
Anyhow.
Swine Flu. H1N1. Frenzy. Here is my experience with this situation.
March, 2009. Jacob is 6 months old. Dan was in bed with a flu for about 3 days. He was useless. Sick everywhere and as pathetic as I have ever seen anyone. We scratch our heads, a little late for the flu, but OK. In retrospect, he probably had it then, and we all made it through unscathed.
Spring-ish 2009. Swine flu news.
Summer 2009. We move. We ignore everything happening on the planet because moving with 2 children and starting a new job and selling a house is all our brains can handle.
Early October 2009. Now it is H1N1, and I am on the email list at the preschool and emails are flying around about who is getting H1N1 and is it live or flumist or a shot or what have you.
Late October 2009. I get the kids regular flu shots at the new pediatrician because we finally have health insurance. (Don't get me started on that)
Later October 2009. I have a playground discussion with a few moms about where to get the H1N1 shot, because as I have said in previous posts, I do what doctors say. If we are supposed to get it, I will get it. I call the pediatrician. They don't have it. I look up the health department, they don't have it either, unless you are high risk. We are not. One day Dan calls and says his office is asking him to get it because they are health care professionals. So he gets one at Kroger. As in the grocery store. They are only doing it for health care professionals.
Early November 2009. I read the disclaimers about who can and can not get the shots, and make a call to Asher's cardiologist. He is only allowed the shot, not the mist because of his prior heart conditions, but it does not put him in a high risk category. So.... still none available.
Yesterday. Friends are posting on Facebook where they can get vaccines, and how long they have had to wait in line at the health department. I say to Dan, "Ok, What the heck is going on with this? Am I going to be a lunatic about it and track down some vaccines, or just go with it? Can't you help with this, Doc?" We decide to put a small amount of effort into getting it. But the lack of availability is frustrating, and I am am sure is what the media is playing on. Not to minimize the impact of the illness, but...
Today. Dan emails me that a Duke children's clinic about 30 minutes away has some for walk ins. We have a playdate with a mom who tells me that they are giving it at well baby visits, I call his new pediatrician to make his 4 year check up appointment for December and ask if he can get it then. She says, "Well, I am opening our newest shipment right now, we haven't posted it yet, but we are having a clinic tomorrow at the office. Would you like an appointment?"
ChaChing. Dan and the kids will be vaccinated. I will hope that is enough until I can round up some for myself. Because we all know, if mom goes down, the whole operation goes down. And that is one situation that deserves all the media hype it can get.