Flu Shot Drama

This week, I took Isaac to get his first flu shot. It's recommended for the eldery, those with health risks, and for children ages 6-24 months. I might have skipped it because I do stay at home with Isaac. But, we are thinking of throwing him into the church's nursery on Sunday's. He also will be visiting a lot this season with my sisters who are daycare workers. Both Josh and one of my sisters were hospitalized as toddlers with pnemonia. I guess I just outweighed the pros and cons of the shot and decided to go with it due to a few risk factors he has in his life.

We went to the village's senior center where the health department had set up a clinic for the day. Isaac was the only baby amid many, many adoring elderly men and women... he got tons of attention in the waiting area. There was confusion at first as to whether or not they even had pediatric (no preservatives) shots available. Once we were assured they did, we waited. I'm a wimp and always make Josh hold Isaac for his immunizations. But, I had to be the one this time and it sucked. The nurse prepped his chubby thigh with alcohol and apologized to him as she poked him with the needle. Then, she looked up at me with panic in her eyes and asked, "Is this the right dose?" I managed to stammer,"Ummm... he needs a pediatric shot because he's a baby." She then realized that she really should have asked the nurse next to her for advice instead of the patient's mother. Duh! Nurse #2 told her the same answer I had. Then stupid Nurse #1 pulled the needle out of Isaac's leg before injecting any medicine. The nurse who knew what she was doing gave her the proper medicine and then my poor baby had to get stuck again. As she tried giving him a second shot in the other leg, he kicked and cried. Even two Bob The Builder band-aids and lots of cooing on her part didn't settle him down. I wanted to smack her. But, I didn't.

I know it was just a mistake, but it really freaked me out. We've used the health center for all of Isaac's shots so far. The nurse who stepped in and helped the incompetent one is the one who we've actually seen many times. I should have just declined Nurse #1 when my number was called and waited for someone I knew. (sigh) Anyway, that's the flu shot drama story. The poor little guy has to go back in a month for his second one because the first one is just a booster. I sure hope he doesn't get the flu after all of this!!