Is scheduling your family flu shots a PITA every year?

[jeaniebueller]

Particularly if you WFT? Every year I go through this. I was at the pediatrician for DD's well child two weeks ago and they didn't have their flu shots in yet, so she couldn't get it there. My employer scheduled a flu shot clinic for employees and our family members, but the hours are on a weekday from 9am-1pm. SO convenient for those of us who have school aged children and for those of us with young kids to take time out to pick up our LOs from daycare. Nope. I called the health department to schedule flu shots for myself and the kids at the same time and they can't fit us in until November. NOVEMBER. She suggested that we could go to a walk in pharmacy if we wanted to be immunized sooner, but they pharmacies can't give shots for children under 7, so it wouldn't do me any good anyway. The school often schedules a flu shot clinic, but they have not announced the dates yet and I don't want to wait only to find out its at an inconvenient time or they won't immunize DD because she is so little. I mean, we'll get it done in November, I guess. Its not the end of the world, but its just annoying.

[qcinoct]

yes. And more so because DS1 had a bad reaction to the shot 2 years ago, so I got the boys the mist last year. But, it wasn't available in the province until mid-November. It was a bit ridiculous. I may try the shot again for them this year just so we don't have to wait so long

[Deleted]

I get mine at a clinic they run at work. Easy.

Everyone else is kind of awful. We can usually go to a public flu shot clinic, but the lines can be nuts.

[jewel]

Ours are SUPER easy, aside from having to drag my H in. Kaiser does a flu shot clinic M-S 9am-7pm. It's drop in and free. DS just got his at the pediatrician's office, with his other 12 month shots. The peds office also does drop ins for any vaccination, as long as it's ordered by the doctor ahead of time.

[6fsn]

Our school does them during school hours. DH can get his at work and I've been able to just walk into my doctor. Our pedi has late hours you can walk in for.

[starlily]

No. Kaiser has a very easy drop-in clinic for flu shots.

DD2 just had a well check this morning and got hers already.

[cinco]

No, but I live in a tiny town. The older kids can get theirs at school too.

[tulips]

Things are actually going to be easy this year! X and K are getting theirs next week at K's one-year well visit and H has a shot clinic coming up at work.

I'll just need to find time to pop in a CVS to get mine.

[Deleted]

I was absolutely shocked and surprised last week when I took DD for her 3 year well check up and when I checked her in, they asked if I wanted to get my flu shot too.

Now, getting DH to go get one is like pulling teeth. But DD and I are all set.

[redheadbaker]

Our pediatrician office has walk-in hours for the flu shot, but if I want him to get the Flu Mist, I have to schedule an appointment, which is a PITA.

FI and I just go whenever it's convenient. He always has off on Columbus Day, so he might go then. If my new job doesn't have a flu shot clinic, I'll go to CVS or Target and get it there.

[ilikedonuts]

We usually just do them during the girls' well visit/vaccine appointment at the beginning of November. DH and I will go to a walk in clinic this year. (I totally spaced on getting mine last year. Oops).

Our pedi office is doing 3 days where they will have 4 hours of walk ins for flu shots for patients. This is the first time they are doing that. I might take the girls on Sunday rather then waiting until the first week of November.

[mrsGreeko]

Not really. DH is required to get one by he military so they take care of that.

One of the kids always has a well heck in November and I just get all the kids' and mine at the pediatrician then. They also offer flu shot clinics at the pedi and they will give parents a flu shot too.

[hainesherway]

Mine is easy because they come in to my work and do it. I'll have to ask my pedi about DS...he won't be 6 months until the end of November.

[jessnpaul]

I get mine at work. DH gets his at the CVS walk-in clinic. DS gets his at the pediatrician. We've never had any issues.

[boxerdog]

Flu shots are actually the one thing I can manage, usually! Ha.

I was going to get DS' at his well visit in November...is that too late??

I usually just pop into CVS.

Getting a pertussis shot when I was pregnant, though, now that was a TOTAL pain.

[spk926]

That stinks.

It's really easy for me. My clinic does flu shot clinics and they go until 7 or 8 at night. I think they have some Saturday mornings too. DD got hers last week after gymnastics so our appt. was at 6:00. It took less than 5 minutes in and out. Super simple. I'll get mine from my OB but usually I get it at a clinic my district puts on. DH didn't want to do the flu shot at the clinic with DD for some reason so he'll just go to Walgreens or CVS sometime and get his there.

[redpenmama]

Our pedi does a flu shot clinic that is super efficient (like in and out in 2 minutes), so we are doing that in a couple of weeks. H gets his at a wellness fair at work, and I go to the drugstore for mine.

Our pedi has been delayed receiving it for the last two years, but once it's in, getting them has been no problem.

[minzy]

I don't work but this year has been incredibly easy. The kids just got theirs at DD2's well child check this afternoon. I probably would have gotten one at the grocery store today if I hadn't been accosted by a roving Target pharmacist last week who got me to sign up for one while I was at the back of her store.

[awkwardpenguin]

DW and I get ours at CVS. It's ridiculously easy.

Our pedi said DD will get hers at her 6m appointment. I'm guessing if she was older we would have needed an appointment, but she has evening hours twice a week.

[drloretta]

Our office has evening hours at least a couple of days for flu shots.

I have a latex allergy, so I swing by Target whenever I have time and get a shot.

[thebreakfastclub]

Our pediatrician office has flu shot hours almost every Saturday & Sunday in Oct from 10-1.

I get the mist at Target, and H gets the shot at work.

[SpartanGirl]

Our schools give them out. My kids all had theirs last week. I love how easy it is. I just need to get mine now.

[shamrockshake]

I take them all to the CVS minute clinic

[AmyRI]

Our pedi's office does walk in flu mist clinics on weekends for kids 2+ which is a huge help. My employer does on site flu shots as well during business hours. DH usually just goes to a pharmacy when he gets a chance. We've only had to schedule one separate appointment for DD last year, and they did them early in the AM with a nurse only so it was a fast appt.

[undecidedowl]

I don't usually have a hard time. DH and I get them through work and our pedi's office is pretty easy. I don't think November is too horrible though. Flu season doesn't really peak until January-February.

[tealblue]

My work has a flu clinic for employees only. Spouses can utilize our medical clinic at their own schedule if they have enough shots. Our large hospital has 2 weekend clinics for adults and kids. Flu mist is available for kids 2+. I take DS and Dh goes to the adult room. Super easy.

[pescalita]

It's not great, but not awful. H and I each get them separately, through work. It's usually not until October, and I prefer to do it in Sept, but it's easy and free.

It's easiest for us to get both boys shots at the family doc when we're there for J's appt in early Sept, but they don't always have the correct shot in yet. This year they had J's, but not A's.

But we can drop in any time at the family doc for flu shots. Not always convenient, but my H has every other Friday off and can manage it fine.

[ginap]

We have gotten lucky because we get them at C's well check appointment in October every year. We all get one at the same time easy breezy. We have Kaiser and they offer nurse clinics for the shots and those are pretty easy to find and make appointments with.

[Susie]

My biggest challenge is getting Calvin to go do it. He hates shots. This year I want him to get his NOW because he's not due for his annual checkup until around Thanksgiving (i.e. around my due date). We just had the conversation (again) in the last 24 hours that I want him to call his PCP's office for a nurse time slot to just get the shot now. The actual execution once he calls will be easy.

Mine is easy because I have annual checkups at my PCP every year in Sept and they always have them. The timing is good.

[cherry1111]

Not really because both of our work offers it. So the only one I really have to make an effort for is DS. Thanks for the reminder to call and see when they are doing them.