Shot day from a Ladies' Point of View

From the Files of K061

Here is another as told to stories from my friend Seaman Recruit Sheets. She has been sharing her experiences with me as well and has been kind enough to allow me to share them.

None of us girls had a problem with the thought of Immunizations. We had three from our brother company that I could see, pass out before getting to the first one. Of course, they used the jet injector, high-pressure immunization guns. "Roll up both sleeves to your shoulders and here, hold this vial. 

You'll want it warm because it'll hurt you if it goes in the cold!" They warned. Everyone, in the beginning, was handed a vial of injectable polio vaccine. We held them and rubbed them vicariously between our hands to warm them up.

We were also given an alcohol wipe. 

"Wipe down both arms!" 

There were a few were feeling woozy and so many crammed into one area. We were being run through like cattle. It was the fastest and best method to do almost 200 at a time. 

Then it happens. A couple guys from our brother company were going down. "We'll give them there's while they are sitting.", I overheard.

They had us girls go through first. "Whatever you do, DO NOT FLINCH! The jet coming out will literally cut your skin!".

Another warning. 

Down goes another brother. (I think she likes to make fun of the guys crashing)

They have a few sitting up against the wall. We step forward, mindful to not move our arms and keep them relaxed. I could hear the high pitched tone of the gun as it built pressure then very quickly they'd run an alcohol swab over it to cleanse "bizt."

It was over. Take another step and repeat the process.

 "Bizt"!

One on each arm each time we stepped forward. I knew there had to be a reason my recruiter said my immunization card wasn't necessary. Hell, we got all of them like we'd never had once in our lives!

There was bloodwork done at MEPS before boot camp. I was shown NOT to have an immunity to the German Measles, so I signed paperwork saying I wouldn't get pregnant for at least 3 months after this "extra" shot. It was given with a regular needle.

We all also received a TB skin test as well. The HM's got lots of training at RTC Orlando! The couple days that followed was rough, to say the very least. Sore arms and slight fevers. It was to be expected. Nevertheless, we still went about our days as if we never had the immunization. Just as well.

A few days after getting home on leave after boot camp, I started running a high fever. German Measles! That paperwork I signed came to mind. I was down for the remaining days of my personal leave. I remember starting to sweat when it was announced over the intercom that we could see a New Mexico city to the left side of our plane.

My fever broke, and I ate a sandwich for the first time in several days. I now had tiny marks on my face, neck, and torso. At least it didn't look as bad as it had. More like acne. I thought to myself, "it'll go away soon enough." And it did.



Sorry again for the stock photo. I gotta use what I can. I can also add, that is how it was.

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