Immunization: Reducing your Kids’ Anxiety Around Needles
Whenever I hear about immunization, I can’t help but feel anxious. I know that vaccines help protect our children against illnesses and outbreaks in communities, but my little ones are afraid of needles. If they are anxious, I am anxious. It forces me to swallow my fears and act like everything is okay. Well, it is. Everything will be okay if we can just reduce their anxiety around needles.
As my children love going to school so much, I help to reduce their anxiety by explaining that vaccines help prevent serious illnesses, including many that are easily spread in schools. Children in Ontario must have their required vaccinations to attend school. Providing them with information about the vaccines and preparing them for the vaccine visit definitely helps to reduce their anxiety. I find all the information that I need by visiting Ontario.ca/vaccines. I also involve our kids in staying on top of the immunization schedule by asking them to remind me when their next shots are due. Here are vaccines recommended for school-age children:
At 4 and 6 years old, children should receive the following vaccines: tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox.
In grade 7, children should receive the following vaccines: meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW), hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV).
Between 14 and 16 years old, teens should receive the following vaccines: tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis.
Vaccinations are especially important for babies, as they are at risk of getting one of many serious childhood diseases in their first two years of life. These serious childhood diseases can be prevented through immunization. Note that most vaccines need more than one dose over time to produce full protection. If you ever forget about the vaccination schedule, you can simply visit Ontario.ca/vaccines. On the site, young parents will find an easy-to-use immunization scheduler to help stay on top of their child’s doctor’s appointments.
I firmly believe that getting your children to be involved in their immunization will reduce their anxiety around needles. It is so important for them to face their fear of needles because if too many people delay or refuse vaccines, more cases of serious diseases can be spread. Choosing to be vaccinated also protects vulnerable children who are too young to get vaccinated or can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons. Don’t forget to inform your local Public Health unit any time your child gets vaccinated and make sure to give your kids a little reward after they get their shots.
How do you help your children to reduce their anxiety around needles?
This post was developed in association with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The opinions are my own.
Nice article, my youngest has a lot of stress about needles, major distraction works only the first time, she knows after that!
I don’t think there’s a kid out there that isn’t afraid of what happens at the doctors office especially shots. So if there’s a way to help that’s awesome !
My children were all pretty good with injections, it’s often the parents who are full of anxiety.
My daughter has always been scared of needles I always say it’s over in a second .shes 19 now and still the same way
I try not to let my kids overthink and let them know as we are waiting in the exam room. There are also sprays available to help numb as well as lots of tips via various child life resources.
My youngest son takes a needle better than my oldest.
I was terrified as a kid when I had to get a needle. I always tried to remind them that it only hurts for a second and that the benefits are so important.
It sure is hard to reduce their anxiety around needles!! We try and reduce it about talking about the importance about them so they will understand better why they have then.
I’m totally honest with my boys when they are going to get a needle at the doctors. I think it’s better than lying to them by saying it won’t hurt when it will.
I think it is important to let kids know what is going to happen to them when it comes to needles. Letting them see you get needles can help reduce anxiety too.
I have one kiddo who is very nervous about needles. We try to reassure him all will well and usually let his siblings go first so he can see it’s not so bad!
My son has ALL THE ANXIETY about needles. We try our best to distract him with varying degrees of success.
The promise of candy always helps my kids. I allow them to hold it while they get immunized
My kids are older now, but I always was up front with them when it came to any medical procedure. Explained it in words they could understand and tell them that it the case of a needle, it would hurt a little, but just like a little pinch or sting.
They were fine with that, and we would do something fun when it was all over.
I just took my youngest for a booster and flu shot. She asked me to talk to her about Halloween to distract her while she got the shot. I use to tell her days in advance that we were going but she would over think, so now I tell her as we are on our way there