Possible trigger warning???: Medical vaccinations with needles. I just dont want to upset anybody. So I was at the doctor today, just for my annual checkup and since I'm going off to college this fall, we had to make sure all of my vaccinations and such were up to date and recorded. I wasn't sure whether or not I had the meningitis shot (Menactra) and I needed to know per a requirement for my future university. I had the shot when I was 13, but since it was years ago, I was suggested to get a booster shot of it so that I'd be covered in college. My mom asked if there were any other shots I might need and my doctor brought up the HPV (Gardasil) vaccine. Ok so my mom is like ĂĽber-conservative and so she was so hesitant to let me get the shot. She wasn't putting her foot down, but she found it unnecessary since I'm planning on remaining sexually abstinent until marriage, (which is true; I believe in waiting until marriage). After my doctor explained how Gardasil could protect me even in my marriage and help prevent terrible cancers, my mom started to loosen up a little. Ultimately, it was my choice since I am 18 after all. I knew that being in college could change my perspectives on things and I could possibly be raped by someone with HPV. I chose to start getting my HPV vaccines. (there are 3 of them spread out over time) I'm glad and I feel more secure just knowing that I'll be better protected from terrible diseases. I'm glad my mom let me make my own choice. But now, I have the Gardasil in my left arm, the Menactra booster in my right, and I will have trouble sleeping because I always sleep on my sides. The shots hurt and the needles were sharp, but the pain afterwards always bothers me more.
