My 3-year-old was burning up with fever this morning. 101 degrees! “Oh no!” I thought. “He has had a cough and runny nose for a week now. Please God, don’t let it be pneumonia again!”
A fever in either of my boys adopted from foster care puts me into high alert. Both boys were born premature (one in Mexico) and have had numerous hospitalizations for respiratory issues. But this morning, my biggest concern was the flu.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports:
“Significant increases in flu activity in the United States have occurred in the last two weeks, indicating that an early flu season is upon us. 48 states and Puerto Rico have already reported cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza and, nationally, the percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza is rising fast. Influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity levels in parts of the country are already higher than all of last season. 5 states are already reporting the highest level of activity possible.“
Last week, I took Stinkpot to the doctor regarding my suspicion that he might have hypoglycemia. I requested a flu vaccination, careful not to say the word “shot” in front of my 5-year-old.
The doctor left for a few minutes and then returned, refusing to give my little boy the flu shot.
Apparently, since he is now receiving health insurance coverage under Medicaid, the doctor said that their office cannot give flu vaccinations under Medicaid!!! What???
I now have to take my children covered under Medicaid to the county health department to get them immunized for the flu!!! You cannot be serious!!!
RANT: In my opinion, the government should make it easy for everyone to receive a flu shot – not dictate where someone, especially the poor, would have travel to get vaccinated!!!
The irony is that the CDC, which receives 85% of its funding from the Federal government, has designated the first week in December as National Influenza Vaccination Week!
I will be taking my children to the county health clinic as soon as Lil Bit is able. However, because I had an allergic reaction to the flu shot, I cannot take it without allergy testing first. However, because of my asthma, I will!
Have you had your children had their flu shots? Do you have to deal with the same Medicaid craziness?
If you have a blog, use these banner and web tools to spread the word and promote flu vaccinations!
