CNN iReport

Every year I get the regular flu shot. This way I don't miss up to a week of work. This year I was not able to get either the regular or the N1H1 vaccine at my local doctor. After several weeks of searching, I was able to find a local pharmacy to get the regular flu shot.

Next I wanted get the N1H1 shot. As a wedding photographer it is important to me not to be sick with the flu on day that I am shooting a wedding. It would be devastating to a bridal couple if I was not able to photograph their wedding due to illness.

The first day I spent 4 hours standing in line. The county center closed before I was able to get through the line despite the fact that I was in line a full hour before it opened. The following week, I again attended a county clinic. This time I brought a chair and reading material with me to pass the time. Light rain and cold weather kept many people away. I think the poor weather helped boost my odds and I was able to get in and get the shot.

The whole process has be asking a few questions. Why is the government suddenly so involved with the giving of flu shots? Why are the clinics run for so few hours and during the mid week? Standing in long lines is not my idea of great health care. Is this what government heath care of the future will be about? Is the key to health care being able to outlast everyone else in line? What if we had to do this during the summer when it is regularly over 110 degrees outside?

I understand that it is impossible to guess how many flu vaccines to make for a given season. Every year the number of people that choose to get the vaccine varies widely.

I would like to see a reservation system. If you want to receive a flu shot it would be nice to be able to reserve one ahead of time. Some of us might even choose to automatically get each one each year. With such a system, vaccine manufactures would know how many doses to make and where those doses needed to be shipped. Those that book ahead should get fist priority over those that just react to what they see in the news.

Chris Geiger Photography Web Site: http://chrisgeigerphoto.com/