I Only Need One Shot and It Comes In a Tiny Glass

Dread. Trepidation. Angst. Woe.

Savannah doesn't know this yet, but she's getting her Kindergarten physical tomorrow. She doesn't know because if she did she would be following me around relentlessly asking me to pinch her, so that she can ask me "Will the shot hurt more or less than that?".

But, you don't even know the worst part. The worst part is that < whisper > she needs seven shots < /whisper >. SEVEN. Do you know why? Because I never took her for her four-year "Well Check".

The thing is, I distinctly remember being relieved when she received her last set of shots at three years old because she wouldn't need any more immunizations until Kindergarten. Also, she had been to the doctor's office many times over her fourth year for various flus and strep infections due to it being her first year in preschool and so we ended up there around her fourth birthday anyway. We knew what her recent stats were (percentiles, etc) and since I assumed she didn't need any new immunizations, I never booked a fourth yearly physical.

Do you have any idea what a moron I feel like?

Now, on to tomorrow's appointment. There is NO WAY I am going to allow seven needles to be stuck in my daughter - seven dormant diseases, seven injection sites. (You guys, I'm starting to CRY.) There is no way that I'll allow her to have more than two immunizations tomorrow.

So, now my dilemma is how far apart should I safely schedule the shots? One week? Two weeks? What about all the convincing buzz about MMR being linked to autism? Savannah had an MMR shot, but is late on the booster. What if they want to give her a whole new MMR shot?

And the HepB shot? I distinctly remember declining that immunization on two occasions because I was told by the doctor that it was to prevent her from contracting Hepatitis B through sexual activity. Savannah couldn't even walk at the time. Now, I'm reading that she needs THREE HepB shots by law.

And can I tell you how USELESS the front desk nurse is? Her exact response to my trepidation over seven shots being administered to my five-year-old at once was "Well, she has to have them all. And they were supposed...to...have...been...given...last year." I honestly don't remember if I meant to hang up on her or not, but I know I did.

Hold me.

Comments

[MommyLane]

Lena,
I feel your pain. To distract my daughter for her kindergarten shots, I brought in the little DVD player from the car. She was watching a video when the nurses came in and she started telling them about her show. I didn't tell her about the shots until that morning because I didn't want her to fret for hours, or days, beforehand.

I'm sure they do this at your clinic, but two nurses did the deed AT THE SAME TIME so as not to prolong the misery. My daughter got four shots at once -- two in each arm. I'm not sure about seven shots. I'm with you. Four seemed like too many to me. I couldn't sleep the night before, tossing and turning and wondering if her personality would change before my very eyes after she got the shots. But she was absolutely fine. Something to check for is whether the immunizations contain mercury. Supposedly they don't use those much anymore, but I understand that's a concern. Sorry to not be much help....

[Divrchk]

My advice would be to get it all over with tomorrow if the doctor will allow all of them. I can't imagine doing two at a time. By the 2nd or 3rd time going to the doctor for these, she will be totally traumatized. If the people that give the shots are good, they will have two people doing them and each do one at the same time to make it less traumatic.

My son had 5 at once last time and it wasn't too bad. Just bring some motrin or tylenol to give her about 1/2 hour beforehand.

[Morgan]

Some states allow a "personal philosophy" waiver (I don't know about CA, particularly) for school immunizations. It's worth looking into, especially for stuff like the Hep B vaccine...Hel-looo. I think you can manage to keep your daughter away from dirty needles and unprotected sex for the next year or so. The waivers I've ssen for CO and MN just ask you to briefly state why you feel particular vaccinations are wrong and then sign saying that you understand your child will not be allowed in school should there be an outbreak of X disease.

[Samantha]

I can understand how horrible it must seem that she has to get SEVEN, but spacing them out would be more tramatizing than getting it all done at once.

Zoe missed a couple of shots at her four year well check up, too, and I think she needed six for kindergarten.

I took some tylenol with me, and gave it to her right before the shots.

It hurt while she was getting the shots administered, but she was sleeping by the time we got to the car.

I feel for ya!

[Amy H]

Sunshine had to get her 5yo shots TWICE! The clinic sent us something months later that said the shots might not have been kept at the wrong temp. MIGHT have. I called everyone - even the CDC - I swear. And they all told me the same thing: It's not going to hurt her, but not getting them could. HOURS of internet searching later, I made her another appointment at a different clinic.

I agree w/ the ladies above. I'd probably say two appointments. That really is a lot of shots. (You know, mine got 3 shots in one, I think, other than MMR). Just don't hype it up too much and don't play it off. I'm very straight-forward though, and I tell them "Yeah, it hurts, but only for a second and then it will be a little sore."

Oh, and I don't blame you at all for missing the 4 year. I was shocked when they told me she had to go at four for daycare (Didn't she just do this!?)

Good luck!!

[zu]

hi,

you can get either a religious or a philosophical waiver.
There is no law that they have to have it. It's all misinformation (or BS).

I didn't get vaccinated for college in CT. I just showed them my waiver - they copied it for their records and that was it.
My friend's five year old daughter stopped getting vaccinations at 2 years old (her mother learned about thimerosal - and she got doubtful) anyways the little girl was always admitted with a waiver. No problem in GA.

Good luck! :)

[a happier girl]

I don't think I'd stretch it out over more than 2 visits. Otherwise your daughter might start to think she gets shots every time she goes to the doctor and start not liking the doctor's office. Then she might start refusing to go inside or crying in the waiting room or something.

[P]

I imagine several of the shots can be combined into one, so perhaps there will not be 7 needle sticks? You might try calling the Ped's office and talking to the nurse about it.

Also, if you're worried about mercury, you can ask for the vaccine to be in a single dose vial...that way no preservative is needed, which is what used to contain mercury.

At any rate, I would think the nurse at your Ped's office has heard your concern before, and they might have a solution!

[jessica]

vaccines are scary. you can opt out. of all of them. at any time. Some states have different exemption criteria, but it's in the law.

[B]

Okay, your state is crazy. My kids got their last shots until age 5 (or before they enter Kindergarten) at their 2 year check-up. Why every year in CA?? What the hell are they immunizing? Anyway, I still think you need a new doctor b/c of the whole antibiotic/allergy fiasco.

As far as I know Autism was linked to the mercury in the MMR shot, not the immunization itself. They have taken the mercury out. You can google that, but my baby's crying so I got to go!

[tessa]

Sounds like a rough day ahead hon. Try not to make it bigger in YOUR head than it needs to be. You don't want your mini me all nervous and high strung before it ever happens and you going nuts over it could cause a domino effect for her. Just take a deep breath and talk to the Dr tomorrow before it all goes down and then decide what's best for all of you. Hugs Cyber Hugs hon

[Lena R./ Asiajadamommy]

Many Dr.s are offering multiple shots combined into 1 to make it easier on everyone. If you're lucky six of those could be combined into 2 and then she'd only need one more. Good luck.

[Summer]

As a former 'shot giver', try to do it in two visits. She might be traumatized if you spread it out so much. Give her some Tylenol about an hour before. Also, see if they can have two nurses do the immunizations at the same time. It really helps!

7 shots seems like alot! Did she miss her Varicella? Or did she have chicken pox already?

The Hep B series is just that, a series of 3 shots. So, you won't have to do them all at once. The downside is that you'll have to bring her back for it. Good point- it doesn't bother most children as much as other shots. That's because of the way it's given.

The IPV & MMR do sting a bit. They used to offer a combo shot for that one but, I seemed to remember some discussion about the effectiveness of it. Some offices do two seperate shots and that's generally considered a good way to do it. If your office offers the combo, I'm sure it will be fine. It's really a physician preference.

Of course, I could give you all sorts of opinions on shots. The CDC website has lots of info as well. Let me know if there is anything else I can open my big mouth about!

[Shelby]

Hi Lena,

I have a newborn and so have been ruminating over vaccines lately. I'll be choosing to do whatever vaccines I do end up deciding to give my daughter separately (no combo shots), and not at the same time - at least 3-4 weeks apart.

The MMR is the only one I know about at this point. If you decide to have it at all, several sources out here in the Bay Area (progressive pediatricians, naturopaths, book: Vaccinations, a thoughtful parents guide by Jill Aviva Romm, etc) say that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines should be done separately and not in the MMR combo shot, and they should each be done 6 months apart. The MMR has been linked to autism, and that may have to do with the previous shots with mercury in them, and also with a history of autoimmune conditions in the family history. Also, watch for swollen glands 7-10 days after the mumps shot.

Lastly, for me, it's a matter of making a decision about my daughters long-term health before the 'trauma' factor of getting shots every time she goes to the doc. I had to have allergy shots every week as a kid, and it didn't irreparably damage me.

[Brooke]

Don't worry about it! Oliver is going into Kindgergarten, and I also forgot about his 4 year well child check. Yeah, I thought we were good till 5 years too. He got all of them at once, and was surprisingly great about it. It probably helped that I bribed him with Target afterwards.
I think you should just let Savannah get them all over with at once, instead of having to mess with them over a period of weeks.

[Jessica]

I don't want to turn your message board into a shots or no shots duel but the diseases that immunizations protect against are gone or near gone for a reason. IMMUNIZATIONS. Don't skip them. Tell Savannah that they are going to hurt but they are necessary to protect her from diseases that can be extremely harmful. Take her for ice cream afterward and she will forget all about it.

[Katelynsmama]

Think of it this way if she has them all at once then she only has to go through it one time. With of course ice cream and what ever else to sooth the pain. And as far as feeling stupid I am so calling the doctor today because the last shots my dd had were on her 3rd and they told me she was done until kindergarten. Not I assumed they told me. hmm????

[Jenni]

As a nurse, I have to echo Jessica's message- get the immunizations.

As a mom, get the done and over with as quick as feasible. Take her out for ice cream (or whatever special) afterwards. Then praise her for being so brave. By the afternoon after his shot, my son was totally bragging how brave and strong he was about it!

Good Luck!

[Terra]

I agree with most of the other posts. Get them done at the same time. I think it would be less traumatic that way. Make sure to give her the Tylenol an hour before. There is one kindergarten one that hurts worse than the others. I wish I could remember which. Have them do that one last.

Take pictures after with her band-aids one. Then you can make a getting ready for school scrapbook. I did this for my little girl and she loved it. We took pictures of her doing everything needed to start school; shots, clothes shopping, school supply shopping, hair cut, etc. Good Luck!!

[Kim]

If one of the things you're worried about is pain with so many needles you should check into getting the EMLA patch.

I imagine that some of the vaccinations could be combined in one shot, but I'm not sure. Also, if you space them out too much, Savannah might start to hate the doctor because every time she gets a needle. (or it will seem that way to her)

The EMLA patch is something you get from your pharmacist...you find out from your doctor where the needle will be given and apply the patch in the right location before going to the office. It numbs the area so it won't hurt so much...really good if she needs multiple shots.

A little boy I used to care for used these and they worked amazingly well for him.

[Shrinkingmom]

In the State of Washington, you don't have to get all the shots . . . you can claim religious exemption or personal exemption. I picked and chose which immunizations I allowed and I will continue to do so. (My daughter is 4 now.)

[islaygirl]

i'm not going to enter the debate, but my wee one had 4 last time. she was fine. i'm with whoever said to not over/under-play it, (yes it hurts, it's a pinch and then it's over and it'll be a little sore) and a little reward after for being brave.

the hardest part for us was when they're getting the shot ready and you're just sitting there in the room waiting for them to get their act together. so if you can ask them when you first talk to the nurse to be ready to go, that might help.

good luck.

[Wendy]

Wasn't there some study lately about kids drinking sugar water right before felt less pain when getting shots? I'd at least surprise her with a lollipop during the visit, and some other bonus for after. My girl would be thoroughly distracted with that (we'll see in another two mos., actually).

[Michelle]

I will hope that all goes well, stand your ground and know that you are the parent and you need to make a decision that you feel is right for your child.
Visit my web page at:
http://www.momtoanangel.net/brandy.htm
My daughter died from a reaction to her 15 month booster shots, sadly she was given them at almost 18 months of age and died within 24 hours. I would NEVER tell a parent to not vaccinate- but I do encourage parents to educate before they vaccinate and make a choice that is best for them and their child.
Best wishes, I know how scary this is.

[Lori]

I thought the link between shots and autism was due to the mercury in the shots, and California does not permit mercury to be used in vaccinations any more (I specifically asked my ped. about the issue)