I have some questions about Vaccination Shots.?

Question

My mom never believed in getting shots, but I don't want to get sick so I want to get them. I am now about 13-14 years old and have a few questions.

-Where can I get them? At the docters or are there specific vaccination places?

-Since I haven't gotten any, would I have to wait in between shots? Like if I got a vaccination shot for one thing, would I have to wait a while before getting a vaccination before getting a shot for something else?

-What can you get shots for?

-Is it too late for me to start getting shots?

-What are side effects of shots?

-Should I bother? I don't want to get sick or anything... My mom never had shots and she never got sick. But I still think I should.

Answer 1

Is to where you can get them, talk to your regular doctor, he can set it up.

As to waiting, there are certain shots that can't be taken together, and there are several that are spaced out over several months - like Gardisil and the Hepatitis vaccine.

You can get vaccinated for Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Pertussis, Tetanus and Diptheria, Hep A, Hep B HPV and Meningitis.

Side effects are generally reaction on the site, swelling, bit of fever. It varies from vaccine to vaccine. The Meningitis one just sucks - you feel sick for a week, but it is so worth it.

As for should you, if you intend to go to college definitely get the Meningitis and Measles vaccines. Those are two ugly things that wander around college campuses. You constantly here about Measles getting introduced by a foreign exchange student from a country without vaccination programs - and all the children of anti-vaccination parents on the campus catch Measles. Meningitis is just something you never want to get, and also is easy to pick up in dorms.

If you plan on being sexually active before you're 25 or so, get the Gardisil HPV vaccine. It'll stop you from getting the main cause of cervical cancer in the US, and some of the more virulent wart strains - not all though. Given how widespread HPV is in the US, this is just common sense.

Answer 2

Shots for what? Flu?

You are required to get shots for many diseases like polio just so you could be in school. So I'm pretty sure you had shots before.

You can get shots at the doctors, just schedule and appointment and tell them what you want to get a shot for. Specific vaccination places tend to just be flu shots and they do those in grocery stores so people can go there and it's more available to more people.

Really the list of vaccinations is endless but you don't need to get them all. Ask your doctor what vaccinations you need to get because at your age you can be vulnerable to certain diseases.

It's not too late for you to get shots, anyone can get them

The side effects of the shot depends on the certain vaccination but really it's just a bit of pain in the area that you got a shot or you can get a fever but that's rare. Just get a heat compress on the specific place they gave you a shot.

TIP: After you get a shot, move your arm around A LOT. That's what my mom taught me. Trust me, it works.

IMPORTANT!

Just because you get a shot, it doesn't automatically mean that you're not going to get sick. A shot is basically preparing your body so when you actually get sick your immune system(your little army) is able to fight it off because your body recognize the disease because you got a shot.

Be safe hon'!

PS. Your mom may have a strong immune system. Just remember, during the cold/flu season, wash your hands before eating, disinfect the phone, keyboard and doorknobs to prevent spreading the cold/flu and drink lots of water and orange juice.