Why I Take My Children to Get Their Shots—Elena's Story

When I was a child, I didn't get a lot of vaccinations [shots]. So, when I had my first baby, I was not sure why she needed to have shots. I was afraid that they would hurt her or even make her sick.

My daughter's doctor told me that shots help keep my baby healthy. He said she might cry or fuss for a short time after getting shots. The doctor said my daughter might also get a slight fever, but probably not. The doctor said that the shots would help keep my baby healthy by protecting her from many diseases. He also told me that my daughter might not be allowed to go to day care or to start school if she doesn't get her shots. I felt better knowing that the shots helped to keep my baby healthy.

Now that I have two children, I try to make sure that they get their shots on time. It can be hard to remember which shots they need, so the doctor gave me forms to keep track of each child's shots. I keep these forms in a safe place at home and take them with me every time we visit the doctor.

The doctor tries to schedule the children's visits for the same day when he can. He knows that we have to take the subway to get to his office. Even though it's not easy to get there, I always manage. It's worth it to me because I want my children to be as healthy as possible.