5287 - Vaccination

Two weeks ago Claudia and I got our first Shingrex shot. It's a two month wait for the second one. I asked if we could get a flu shot also. They (Walgreens) said they would rather not with the shingles shot.

So we went back yesterday to get the flu shot AND a booster covid shot. We could get those two together. I made an appointment. We showed up at the appointed time. 

First question from the clerk, "can I see your Medicare card?" I handed her my AARP United Healthcare card. No, she says, "your medicare card." My what? I don't carry that. I haven't needed it since ... forever. I've got my UHC card. That's what I used to get the first two COVID shots. "Nope, we need your medicare card." You know, the one that doesn't have your SS number on it anymore?

She says, "here's the number for Medicare. You'll have to call them and get the number." 

Yeah this ought to be quick... not. So I called Medicare. And actually it was only a ten minute wait! Go figure. So I talk to the nice lady, give her all the info she wanted to verify who I was. Is she going to tell me my number? Nope. She's not allowed to tell me the number over the phone. But she can transfer me to someone that can tell me. OK. On hold. More music.

Only a five minute wait this time. Guess what. She needs to get some information from me. That's right, the same information I just gave the other gal. So we go through the procedure and now SHE can give me the number.

She must talk to a lot of old people. OK, she says, "first is a 4. OK, 4 I say. She says, 4 right? Yes, 4. OK, next is an A as in apple. OK, A. A? A." This went on for all eleven characters. And then she repeated the whole number, slowly, with me repeating everything back to her again.

Now Claudia needs her number also. She has to talk to Claudia. So I hand the phone over and Claudia answers all the questions. Then she starts with the here's your number thing with Claudia, who has Parkinson's and has a few problems writing. I don't want her to get this number wrong so I said I'll write it down. She hands the phone to me.

Nope, she has to give permission for me to write the number down. I hand the phone back. OK, she says, "who was that?" My husband. "What's his name?" (facepalm) So Claudia goes through the process of authorizing me to write the number down. Now I can write the number down. Remember "A, A, A?, A..."

Now I have the numbers. I go back up to the counter. "Fill out these forms." Three forms each, front and back. Now stand in line to 'not pay' because they are both free to us but they have to ring us up for $0.00 anyway. Now go sit and wait, we'll call you when the shots are ready.

Once the shots were ready it didn't take any time at all to get poked. Now wait for 15 minutes before you leave.

It took an hour and a half. But at least it's done. Now in 6 more weeks, we go back for the second Shigrex shot.

Oh, and on one of the forms it asked if we had had two pneumonia shots. Don't know, don't care. Get me outa here.