This is the second time I have been pregnant during a flu season it’s also the second time I have faced serious obstacles trying to get vaccinated. First, I tried my obstetrician only to find out that, at least where I live in Westchester County in New York, they don't give out the seasonal flu vaccine.

So I tried my internist next. This year, his office is out of flu vaccine altogether. But during my last pregnancy I showed my internist at the time the CDC alert recommending that pregnant women get vaccinated, and he nevertheless refused to give me the vaccine. Even my pulmonologist wouldn't provide the vaccine, even though I have asthma, which puts me at higher risk of complications and severe disease.

For the first pregnancy, my employer at the time hired a nurse to vaccinate the entire company, and she wouldn't give me the shot. I finally, got one from my boss at the time, who also happened to be an M.D.

This year I thought the local health department would be my fall-back since I'm away the day my employer offers the shot, but no luck. And the retail pharmacy clinics were no help either. Continuing down the list of possibilities, I tried Planned Parenthood next, and was rejected because they didn’t take my insurance. I offered to pay cash, but they said they don’t accept fee-for-service payment.

Just as I was about to give up—literally in tears—success! I got the seasonal flu shot from my husband, a physician, who was able to get a syringe of vaccine from a colleague.

I hope I don’t face the same problems with the H1N1 vaccine. A pregnant colleague of mine in Washington D.C. was able to get the H1N1 vaccine at a walk-in clinic. Maybe I’ll end up traveling to D.C. for it in the end!

It’s true that the flu poses serious risks to pregnant women and their unborn. Unfortunately, like I found out, many pregnant women face unnecessary barriers to getting the vaccine.

—Doris Peter, manager, Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center

What about you? Have you had any problems finding someone to give you a flu vaccine? We’d like to hear about it.