Shots, also called vaccines, help teach your body how to fight off certain germs before they can make you really sick! A vaccine contains a tiny, harmless piece of a germ that lets your body practice fighting it. Vaccines are one of the most important ways to keep you healthy.
After the shot, your body remembers how to beat that germ. If you ever meet the real thing, your body already knows what to do! Getting a shot can pinch or sting for a moment, and that is completely normal. But the pinch only lasts a second, and then it is done!
It is okay to feel nervous about getting a shot. Your doctor or nurse will be gentle, and a grownup will be right there with you the whole time. You can look away, squeeze someone’s hand, or take deep breaths to help you feel brave!
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