Seniors Getting H1N1 or Swine Flu Shots
The Need for Vaccination Centers to Be More Senior-Friendly
It's on the airwaves too much: swine flu shots are needed for at risk populations. But it's not as easy as it seems for older adults to manage with long outdoor lines. This can cause unnecessary exhaustion to already chronically ill patients.
Deciding Which Seniors Can Get H1N1 Vaccinations
In addition to pregnant women, children, and at-risk adults, certain seniors fall within the criteria of chronic medical conditions required by some vaccination centers in order to receive the shot. No doubt the clear choice for updated information is the Center for Disease Control.
However, seniors may find it a bit of a challenge in trying to ascertain if they are considered "at risk." Some sites may require certain chronic diagnoses including diabetes while others are less clearly defined.
Finding Where Seniors Can Get H1N1 Shots
It is not always easy to locate a place where an older person can be vaccinated against swine flu. At times TV or other media give a link after an H1N1 news piece. Yet the links often give locations to receive regular flu shots, and only provide preventive information about swine flu and at times hints on dealing with flu.
County and State Health Departments have proven to be a good source of information for a number of older adults seeking such inoculation. Although there are far more places which give seasonal flu shots than H1N1, there are some pharmacies who have risen to that task, including CVS, Walgreens, Target, and K Mart.
One Older Adult's Experience in Getting Vaccinated for Swine Flu
After several weeks of research, an elderly person's caregiver located a vaccination site at a neighboring town which was operating on Saturday. It would take considerable planning to make it happen. Watching the weather the day before, appropriate clothes and an umbrella were laid out. A folding chair was put in the car over the objections of the at-risk senior patient.
The next morning, the couple left before dawn to drive to the high school on the schedule shown on the internet. When they reached the school, they were told to go around the building. Keep in mind these are senior citizens and they had to walk.
After making it breathlessly there, they were redirected to get back to their car and go several blocks to reach the back of the campus. At that time a decision had to be made as to which line to head toward. They happened to pick the right one by asking lots of questions and through a bit of luck. However, the people in front of them weren't so lucky. They discovered after waiting a few hours that they did not have the required ticket, and by that time the ticket line was closed.
The sun was in the other side of the sky by the time shots were done. Exhausted, the older adults literally dragged themselves toward the parking lot. (They were able to flag down a passing golf cart which was patrolling the area for a ride to the parking lot to find their car.)
This at-risk senior made it, but was unable to walk for several days afterward, due to waiting in the long lines. It took him several days of recuperation with ice packs and bed rest to get back on his feet.
Recommendations for Vaccination Centers Involving Seniors
To avoid exhausting seniors who plan to get swine flu shots, authorities concerned should consider the following recommendations:
- Let seniors wait inside, especially those with chronic medical conditions, some of whom may be frail, so they won't be subject to the weather.
- Let at-risk seniors sit down – as many locations are in schools and seating wouldn't be too hard to provide. Carrying a chair isn't always easy, and the repeated getting up and down is hard on them.
- Use clear signage so people don't have to wander around trying to find out where to go. Often a school is quite large, and arduous walking can be reduced if people understand where to go.
- Perhaps seniors could be given a ticket with a number or time and they could be allowed in a building where they could sit down and have access to restrooms and air conditioning since standing 3 to 4 hours in lines is hard on elderly people with identified chronic medical issues.
- Make information clear in advance on brochures or websites about the vaccination clinics to allow older adults to make plans so they don't wait in lines only to be referred elsewhere or have their presence questioned.
Older adults do what they can to avoid flu and deal with winter illnesses. Seniors and boomers who want to get H1N1 vaccinations have to first find out where to get the shots, who is allowed to receive them at that particular flu shot center, and then set aside time, energy, and perhaps a friend to go along to make the situation as easy as possible. Swine flu shots for seniors don't have to be a stressful occasion. There are some tips which vaccination centers could observe to be supportive of seniors. Maybe it's time to update flu shots, check out where to get H1N1 vaccinations, and continue about the business of pleasant senior living.
Source: Personal interview with Larry McLoughlin on November 16, 2009, about his experience at the vaccination center the previous Saturday.
Seniors Getting Swine Flu Shots
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