My girls are sick. Why are they sick? Because I had to take them to the doctor's office for a WELL BABY checkup. That's right, they were perfectly healthy when we went to see the doctor. Now they are sick.
It's not even because my girls were born during flu season. This particular visit SHOULD have been unnecessary. That is, if the staff at the pediatrician's office had done their job properly.
For those of you who have no children, for the first eighteen months of a child's life they get about a zillion vaccines. Vaccines the day they are born and every couple of months after, at least it feels that way. Every appointment we went to our girls were getting poked. No wonder kids hate doctors.
So, when we scheduled the girls' 18 month appointment we were told they had one vaccine left until they were five. Great, we'd be done with it and not bother with all the well-baby checks that just expose the girls to all sorts of diseases at the doctor's office. Then we arrive at the 18 month appointment. Everything is going great until they say, "Oh, we can't do the vaccine today, it's four days too early." What? How can it be FOUR DAYS too early? Well, it turns out, this vaccine was a booster and it had to be EXACTLY six months or later after the original shot, which they got at their year appointment.
Now on to why I am angry. Did I know this stupid little rule? No. Did anyone bother to tell me this stupid little rule? No. Did the people who knew this bother to check if they were EXACTLY six months after the original shot when THEY set up my appointment? No. If I had known, I would have asked. They did know, they should have checked. So I was angry. Still am, in case you can't tell.
The doctor said not to bother setting up an extra appointment, they could get the booster at their two year appointment. That is why we had to have an appointment this month, when everyone and their dog is getting sick. I'm certain that is where the girls had to have picked this up, we didn't go anywhere else. I haven't even taken them to the grocery store for a while.
Everyone keeps asking if it is the swine flu. I have no idea. I haven't taken them back to the doctor. I figure at this point their immune system would be compromised and they would be more susceptible to something else. They seem to be feeling much better as I write this, I hope that means it's over.
4 comments:
Who's your doctor? We were planning to go with Bowers office.
that is very aggravating!! I hope they don't have the flu and that they feel better soon... A sick baby is no fun - and in your case sick babies!
Today I had to have my kids' shot records reviewed by the school nurse. As we were leaving she gave them this little spiel about covering coughs and washing hands. Then she turned to me and said something about how many germs were here -- and seemed to indicate her office. That made me feel great. Oh, and she told me they need PPD's, so we also have to take them to the hospital! And I think Michael is already sick...
I've had that happen before, too. But, now I know in case I ever need to know again! I'm sorry that they're sick. :(
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