So, let me get this straight: everyone should get flu shots and children are especially susceptible. But most doctors don't have the shots and places like Walgreen's won't give the shots to children. Ask the City for advice and you can pretty much cue the crickets.
The flu is here. I've heard of cases at local universities. The City Health Department Web site lists four deaths from swine flu this year. Everyone agrees, kids under 5 are at higher risk of complications and should get vaccinated.
Meanwhile, school has started and most kids likely aren't vaccinated yet. Considering that it takes about two weeks for the body to develop the necessary anti-bodies to the flu virus, these kids should have gotten flu shots at least two weeks ago.
My neighbors told me yesterday that their child was vaccinated with a seasonal flu virus. So, I called my doctor at a major clinic in town and was told they won't have shots until October. The same is true for the entire network, it seems. My co-worker here was told the same thing by her doctor, who said that if people don't get vaccinated until mid-October, it's already too late for some.
Places like Pick 'N Save and Walgreen's already have adult flu shots but nothing for kids. I called the City's Northwest Health Center and found they also have no shots. "When will they come," I asked. "I don't know," was the reply.
I got about the same reply when I called the Health Department office. "Try the Visiting Nurses Association," a woman said. When I pointed out that the Health Department's own Web site says that the VNA only does adult shots, the circle was completed. "Try your doctor."
This doesn't say much for our preparedness.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
