On Tuesday at work, a colleague was still cheerful: "Finally sent the little monster back." Thursday, he didn't show.
When someone asked in the group chat, he said: "My son brought home flu A β the whole family is running a fever." I counted: from "monster back in its cage" to "whole family down," exactly two days.
This isn't an isolated case. In the first week of school, three people in our office went down β all the kids caught it first, then the adults. Kindergarten reopening is like opening a virus blind box: you never know whether day one brings home a craft project or a new strain of flu.
That night I started checking our medicine cabinet. Is the fever medicine expired? Does the thermometer still have battery? Do I have enough leave left? All three things I should have done last week.
Which brings us to vaccines. I asked the vaccination clinic: the best window for the flu shot is September to October β it doesn't work instantly, antibodies take two to four weeks to build, so getting it right before flu season truly starts lines everything up. In Shanghai, you can book through the "Health Cloud" app or at community-hospital vaccination clinics; some communities don't need an appointment, just walk in. Both adults and kids are advised to get it. If you have a kid in kindergarten, one shot saves you a whole week of chaos.
My mom said on the phone: "You didn't send the kid away β you invited kindergarten viruses into the house." Thinking about it, she's right.
The joy of the little monster returning is real. But in the first week of school, before worrying about homework catch-up, the priority is stocking the medicine cabinet and saving your leave.