If you or your child are so afraid of needles that you try to avoid them at all costs, you may benefit from additional help. Plan something fun to celebrate and remember a job well done!
Remembering and talking about what went well after the fact - even if it wasn’t perfect - helps make it less stressful and less painful next time. There’s more you can do even when the vaccination is over. (Scott Housley/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Talking about the experience can help make the next vaccination easier. Although it’s instinct, saying things like, “I’m sorry” or “It will be over soon” can actually increase pain and distress by inadvertently signalling to the child that there’s something to worry about it. To make it easier for kids, have them blow a pinwheel or bubbles.įor parents, try to avoid reassuring your child. Taking a few deep breaths can also help maintain calm and minimize pain. Playing games or listening to music on a smartphone is an easy, effective tool for managing pain and distress, and most people have it right in their pocket!Īlthough high-tech things like virtual reality help, low-tech distractions like talking to someone or imagining something fun work too. Use distractionĭraw attention away from the pain before and during the injection by focusing on something fun, engaging and interactive. Then release tension for 20 to 30 seconds (without fully relaxing) before tensing again and repeating until the needle is over or you stop feeling faint. To use this technique, sit or lie down and tighten your arm, leg and stomach muscles for about 15 seconds until your cheeks feel flush. Kids and adults who typically feel faint when getting needles can use a technique called muscle tension to help raise their blood pressure to feel better. For kids two years and younger, breastfeeding or use of a sweet-tasting solution, such as a small amount of sugar water, is also recommended. Infants can be cuddled skin-to-skin, clothed only in a diaper, held facing inward against a parent’s bare chest.
Lying down or being held down can increase fear and pain, and create a sense of loss of control. Kids can sit on a parent’s lap and be held in a hug either facing the parent or to the side, often called comfort positions. It’s best to sit up in a comfortable, relaxed and supported position during the vaccination. (Heather Hazzan, SELF Magazine/flickr), CC BY Hold children in a supported sitting position during the injection. These science-backed strategies are recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society and the World Health Organization, among others. These five strategies are simple, easy to implement and helpful for all ages - including babies, children and adults.
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As a psychologist with expertise in pain management, I know there is a wealth of research clearly showing how to prevent pain and soothe your needle fears. This means that, unless we develop a needle-free vaccine, managing pain and fear from needles is critical to the success of vaccines - including an eventual coronavirus vaccine.īut don’t fear. They are also more likely to avoid medical care. People who are afraid of needles are less likely to get the flu shot or to have their children vaccinated. Indeed, 20-50 per cent of kids and 20-30 per cent of adults report significant needle fears. But for people who fear needle pain, the mere mention of a vaccination evokes immense dread and bad childhood memories of painful injections at the doctor’s office or at school. Vaccinations are one of the most common reasons for injections in children.
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