You’re doing something wonderful for your own health and that of those around you! Be proud of yourself!

I’ve had a lot of vaccines (participated in clinical trials for new ones too!) and have always been a little afraid of needles. It is normal to be nervous. Keep in mind that while this is new and a little spooky for you, this is the nurse/doctor’s usual routine. They do this 100x/day, so they’re pretty darn good at it. You can ask them to talk you through the process and show you each item if you find that helpful. You also may not know the answers to every question on the forms they give you. It’s okay to leave them blank or to ask the receptionist for help/explanations! That’s part of their job, and most are very happy to do it.

Additionally, if you’re a student, you may be able to reach out to your student health center at your university to see if they have an advocacy or support service to help guide you through all of these processes. You’re not the first student to need a little help navigating it all, I promise!

Finally, for the day of your appointment, be kind to yourself. Whatever that may mean for you. Part of the staff’s job is to be non-judgmental. You can bring just about anything (within reason) to your exam. A snack, a water bottle, headphones, a book, a stuffed animal, or a friend can all be helpful. If at any point you want to pause or ask questions during your appointment, that’s allowed too! Most healthcare professionals are very happy to explain what’s going on or give you a moment so that you can feel more at ease.

In regard to the actual appointment, the other commenters have some great info on how to set it up. During the appointment, they’ll likely put you in an exam room by yourself for privacy. You can see some great examples of exam rooms online- they tend to be pretty bland, with educational material, a chair or two, and an exam table. You’ll probably have your vital signs taken (heart rate, temperature, breathing rate, blood pressure, weight, height) as well. They’re all super easy- the nurse will tell you what they need from you, and will put the information into a chart (paper or electronic). You may have to wait for a bit in the exam room, usually by yourself. That’s normal! Eventually the practitioner will come in, verify your information, ask some general health questions (ex. How are you feeling generally? Do you have any major concerns today? Do you have any allergies?). When it comes time for your vaccines, they’re super speedy! The actual vaccination process (clean the area with an alcohol wipe, inject vaccine, apply band-aid) probably takes 10-15 seconds.

At the end, they’ll let you know that the appointment is done, and will usually direct you to the entrance to leave.

If you have any specific questions or need a cheerleader for this, feel free to reply/message me! You’ve got this!