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Obtaining flu vaccines for my family of four is proving complicated this fall season.

Last year, we opted to inoculate only our Type 1 diabetic child, 7-year-old Zoe, to save money.

Her 4-year-old sister Harmony got the flu. We spent $38 on the Tamiflu that she spewed with great distaste onto her bedding and $40 for an Urgent Care co-pay. And I had to take unpaid time off work to care for her.

Not cost effective.

So this year, we got an early start.

The doctor's office seemed like a logical place to get vaccines -- until we got the bill in the mail.

Back in August, my husband went in for his first complete physical in 12 years and a regular flu shot. We recently had changed health insurance companies because of rising premiums and did not realize that physicals and flu shots (the mist is never covered on our plan) would not be covered until February. The amount we now owe, including the $45 for the flu vaccine, is about $748.

Zoe is on a different health insurance plan that does cover flu shots, but when she was at the doctor's office recently for a quarterly diabetes checkup, they were out of the regular flu vaccine. They would have the swine flu vaccine available the following week for a $30 administrative fee per person.

I was not able to attend the free flu shot clinic the News & Record offered; I got mine at a drug store for $25. But drug stores do not vaccinate children.

Then I learned about a Saturday flu clinic at the local health department.

After promising a Littlest Pet Shop toy if they endured the experience with minimal wailing, I got the children out of their faded but warm pajamas, and off we went. Anticipating a long wait, I brought a lot of library books to read, but surprisingly, we did not tarry long enough even to use the public restroom. I paid $12 per child to get their shots and mentioned that our doctor's office was offering the swine flu vaccine.

In a whisper, the county employee told me that if I just took the kids through such and such door, they could get their swine flu shot for free. She apologized that she could not offer the same service to me; it was only for children and specific occupational groups on this particular day.

A friendly man with kind eyes explained the pros and cons of the swine flu shot. Though he works for the Soil and Water Conservation Department and was just helping out, he did a great job of calming both children, administering the shots and applying bandages.

He gave us a little blue immunization card and informed me that the children would need to come back in a month for the second dose. I am hoping that I remember to do this and that they still will have the vaccine by the time we get around to revisiting.

And I could really just kick myself for not asking the soil and water guy about the standing water in a shady spot in our backyard. I bet he could have provided some insight.

Or maybe I will do what a coworker suggested when we return -- I will pose my questions to a RN.

When not puzzling through the crazy health care and health insurance systems in our country, Janice Carmac works as an editorial assistant for the News & Record. Contact her at 373-7098 or janice.carmac@news-record.com