Jabs, Work and Nursery

[evenhope]

Just been sent 2 separate appointments for DD (12 mo)'s next 2 jabs. Not sure if we are going to have them yet but our surgery only does jabs on a Wednesday. This is one of the 3 days I work and DD goes to nursery.

How do other WOHM deal with this situation? (or are your surgeries more flexible?)

I'm faced with either having to leave work, go and get DD from nursery, come all the way home, have the jab, take her back to nursery (and resettle ) and go back to work, or have to take a day off (and a day off nursery I still have to pay for), each time. I have no leave left anyway since having to take my last few days when she was sick

Quite aside from the inconvenience, children tend to be a bit grotty after a jab so is it fair to nursery (or DD) to take her back there afterwards? Work quite rightly takes the view that as I'm at home 4 days of the week- including 2 weekdays- I can do any domestic stuff on those days.

IME if you call to say that you cannot make it they will re-arrange. Could you do this at all?

DH could take her? Now you're at work you need to share

Even if I rearrange it it'll still be a Wednesday. That's the problem. They won't do them any other day.

DH works nights and can't be up on Wednesday because he looks after her on a Thursday when I work. Also doesn't solve the nursery dilemma of having to either not take her and still pay, or take her when she's not feeling well..

I leave work, collect from nursery, take to health centre, and then give calpol and return to nursery. Not easy though is it? I dont think the way that I do it is especially ideal, but havent come up with a better way yet. I've also got 2 appointments in the next few weeks (my DD is just over 1), but once they are done I think there are no more jabs till the pre-school booster.

you shouldn't have to use leave for days when your dd is ill. you are entitled to some unpiad parental leave.

take some unpaid parental leave

I returned DS to nursery after his jabs including MMR and he was fine - after his MMR i left him eating his tea

does your GP surgery not offer a very early or late appt to at least help a wee bit?

unpaid leave won't help- we're already struggling on 3/5 of my normal money

Unhelpfully the surgery do the jabs between 9.30 and 12, and 2-3. I don't think they could be more awkward if they tried.

Looks like I'll have to take her back afterwards. Thanks for the replies.

Why dont you call in sick? Do you get sick pay?

Where I live you can go to the health visitor drop-in session at the local children's centre for jabs, I live in a city though so not sure if you have any children's centres or similar near you.

What is your health visitor like? Would she be prepared to make an appointment another day if you explain the situation (mine said she would do this for me now I'm back at work)? Maybe its worth asking?

I work for NHS and I know doctors surgeries are v keen to meet their vaccination targets (especially in poor take up areas) so will bend over backwards to rearrange appointments for jabs.

We don't have children's centres and the HV's sessions are Wednesdays too.

I've been on one of the vax websites and they say to wait 6 weeks after Cpox so it looks like I've got time to try to sort something out. I'll go over to the surgery on Monday and ask.

Sick leave is for me being sick, not DD, so not an option, plus to do it twice would be dodgy.

See this is why you need a CM

I have a permission letter from all my parents and take my mindee for all their jabs.

(sorry not very helpful for you I know)

Is there a Grandparent that could take her?

I just told my GP that I couldn't do a Wednesday afternoon, and that it would have to be a Friday afternoon. They bitched and moaned each time, but since a practice nurse is there all the time, they couldn't really refuse.
I said that it was that, or I'd be expecting a GP to do it in evening surgery, and as they have targets to meet on vacs, they are keen to do them

Just be very firm with them - I work ft, and DS's nursery at the time also had a 24 hour exclusion after jabs, so it was even worse

Interesting peppermint patty round here I think the GP has totally given up on trying to meet their vaccination targets! (S London)