Getting the shots
By Ashley Walker (Contact)
Originally published 01:34 p.m., June 20, 2008
Updated 01:34 p.m., June 20, 2008
IT’S THAT TIME — once again. But this time it was Hattie’s turn.
We just returned from her 5-year-old physical. The big one. And I’ve been agonizing over it for months now.
It’s the one that supposedly revs up the defenses of her tiny 40-pound body so that she can survive the bush next fall — in kindergarten. Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, varicella, measles, mumps, rubella. … With that much serum running through her veins, we’re considering sending her on a kindergarten year abroad. Bangladesh? Mogadishu, maybe?
But, you see, I did not want to take her. Not because I’m apathetic about her getting sick or because of the controversy making headlines these days over the safety of vaccinations. I am actually a big believer in vaccinations — in theory. It’s something that has to be done to maintain a disease-free society and to prevent epidemics from wiping out our population — I understand. If there were an inoculation against hangnails, we’d be there. The part I have a problem with is the actual application of the theory, the part that involves the needle and my upper arm. (It took me 37 years to muster up enough courage to get my ears pierced, for goodness sake!)
I hate shots.
Clearly, this problem with vaccinations is not really about my kids. Chris reminds me of that every year at this time. “You’re just projecting your own neurotic hang-ups on to them,” he says.
He’s right. I probably am.
So, in an attempt to spare our children the same hang-ups as their mother, Chris has offered to take them to these appointments. And once or twice I’ve let him.
The kids do seem to survive under his supervision, but then again they don’t get an advocate to negotiate ad nauseum with the doctor about exactly how many pokes are really necessary, or if the numbing spray is available, or if they could call in every nurse on duty to administer all four injections simultaneously.
And they don’t get their Blow-Pops to suck on during the injections, or the triple decker you-can-get-anything-and-everything-you-want-on-top ice cream delight when the whole ordeal is over with.
I wish I could be like my husband in these situations, or my own mother, for that matter, who, as I remember, always maintained her dignity when she took my brothers, sister and me in for our shots as kids. We fussed, complained, kicked and screamed and even tried to refuse treatment, but she always made the whole event very matter-of-fact and ordinary.
Somehow I did not manage to inherit her backbone. Her ridiculously small veins that challenge every phlebotomist’s skill? Yes. Her ability to endure the repeated pokes without losing consciousness? I wish.
Oh well. This is the mother you’ve got, kids. I hate shots. And I always will. So, until they come up with an inoculation for the inoculations that I can get, I’m afraid the Blow-Pops — or your own Pop — will have to get you through.
We did, by the way, manage to endure Hattie’s appointment this week, shots and all.
Well ... almost.
To my surprise, this time it wasn’t the shots that proved to be the problem. There’s an empty little sterile cup in my purse right now with Hattie’s name on it.
I guess we all have our hang-ups.
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Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They get so many now I cant keep up. I took my soon to be kindergartner in and they wanted to add a Hepatitis A vaccs to the mix. Then they gave her a chicken pox vaccs without asking me if she had them yet. So she got FOUR shots instead of three. I hated taking her in too. Its pure torture to a 5yr old. Back when they are little they dont know whats going on till its over.
But still, they would have given her FIVE vaccs. WHATS THE DEAL WITH HEP A???
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i m glad my kids are done with the baby shots, they just need the ten year boosters now. i wonder if its safe to give so many shots in one visit? im sure the shots are safe but spacing them apart seems like a better idea.
Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's completely safe to have all of those vaccines. What is actually torture is letting your kid get the diseases instead of the immunizations.
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