I am concerned about the measles. At this point, the incidence should be decreasing. It is not. And I worry. I don't know if I was ever vaccinated for measles. I don't know if I ever had measles. I do know that the last vaccines I received were shortly before I began work at a public hospital as a young adult. So, over 20 years ago.
This morning I started to look for places to go. I called a CVS clinic to find out if they offered the vaccine. They did. Off I go--only to find the whole place is staffed by robots. You have to sign up by kiosk. The kiosk was occupied by someone who was having a great deal of problems operating it. Another computer showed there was over a 30 minute wait. I could see the prices for various services--$135 for MMR.
Again, this is insane. If your house is on fire, 911 doesn't ask you how you will pay. They come. Even if you could have easily taken care of it yourself. The library doesn't require you to put down deposits before they give you a card. How is this not profiteering off human misery?
Then, I called a internist whom I haven't seen for years. He offers the vaccine, but first he does titers, to check immunity. Which I applaud. But not when I want something now and there are no risks associated with receiving the vaccine, even if one is immune. It takes four days for the titers to return.
I then called 311. There are no walk in health clinics in Manhattan.
I then called Bellevue. Every time they tried to connect me to a walk in out-patient clinic, the line rang a few times, then went dead. After three times, I gave up. Which is probably what they wanted me to do. I then called Metropolitan Hospital. Same problem, different numbers.
I then went to the CDC site. According to them, if I believe I have been exposed to the measles virus, I should contact my internist, who could check my immunity and give me boosters within a reasonable time period. I believe I shall do that on Monday.
Imagine. Here I am, trying to do all the right things, and I can't accomplish any of them. NYC public health--incompetent, stupid, and bureaucratic. Private health--profiteering off the inefficiencies of the health care system.
If we can't control measles, how are we going to be prepared for the big pandemic that public health officials are convinced will come?
What's next folks? We need NYC Healthcare.