Boo that we couldn’t treat all the readers participating in the third annual Kaiser Health News Halloween Haiku Contest to their moment of gory glory. Your entries — like our health care system — ranged from frighteningly complex to haunting. And, based on a review by our panel of never-say-die judges, here’s the winner and a sampling of finalists.

WINNER

The Motel sign blinks

‘Vacancy For The Unvaxxed’

Norman Bates walks in

— Carrie Moores (@carrielmoores)

Inspiration: In Maine, Vaccine Mandate for EMTs Stresses Small-Town Ambulance Crews

FINALISTS

Silence from the graves

Marks the vaccine resistance;

Public Health horror.

— Jean Gearing

Inspiration: Study: If More Adults Had Shots, 90,000 People Wouldn’t Have Died Since June

Candy,

popcorn balls,

and a quick jab in the arm,

this year’s treats for kids.

— Bradley Steffens (@SteffensBradley)

Inspiration: Starting This Week, States Can Place Covid Shot Orders For Kids Ages 5 To 11

Billing code for a

telehealth exorcism?

Asking for a friend

— Joseph Reblando (@ReblandoPR)

Ghosts, globulins, rats!

Lipoproteins and black cats!

Skeletons, trans fats!

— Timothy Kelley

Social media

Making monsters of us all;

Frankenstein lives on!

— Mark Fotheringham

Inspiration: US Politicians, Social Media Are Main Source For Misinfo, Americans Think

Once the bill arrived

For my short hospital stay

Death seemed much cheaper

— Amanda