My kids, ages 6 and 11, got vaccinated for Covid-19 recently. Their school held a vaccine clinic within the back lobby, and it was packed. The majority of the kids were taking the jab in stride, however i did see some tears on the few little fellas' faces (kindergartners, looked like).
My kids, on the other hand, smiled for my iPhone, got their shot without a wince, were band-aided and given a lollipop. Done. I breathed a sigh of relief and felt the world get a little more normal. I had been a bit nervous getting my own shot – a Pfizer booster – however i asked my 6-year-old to hold my hand.
As defiant as my children can be with some things, they've never given me any problem with vaccination shots, even while toddlers. But fear of needles, called trypanophobia, can be a huge issue with some children and teens. And with Covid-19 vaccines available these days for ages 5 or more, this phobia might be standing in the clear way of safety and protection, leaving many parents searching for solutions.
My neighbor is one of these parents. She has two lovely girls aged 12 and 13, and her oldest has a needle phobia. It started a few years back when she fainted after getting a flu shot. She got behind around the vaccinations required in 7th grade in North Carolina. She tried – she'd visit the doctor's office but couldn't follow through due to the crippling anxiety.
It wasn't just a dislike of needles, like I've. It was a true terror of them.
Overcoming fear of needles is important now than ever
While some vaccines are highly recommended but optional, like the flu shot, others are necessary to attend school, and the Covid-19 vaccine might be potentially lifesaving. Or heaven forbid, my neighbor said out loud one day on one in our walks, what if an IV was needed sooner or later, like after a car accident? What can happen then? Quite simply, needles are sometimes unavoidable.
Right now, anxiety about needles is keeping many U.S. adults from obtaining the Covid-19 vaccine. Along with a anxiety about needles is much more common in kids and teenagers compared to adults, with as much as 1 / 2 of teens and a majority of younger children suffering from needle phobia.
This spring, knowing that her daughter couldn't avoid needles any more, my neighbor took action. She found a therapist that specializes in exposure therapy to overcome phobias and made a virtual appointment. She also found a brand new pediatrician who had been open to doing things just a little differently.
Over the course of several virtual therapy sessions, my neighbor's daughter became less and less afraid of needles. She created a customized plan to get her shots. Her plan included being vaccinated outdoors – something her new pediatrician was available to.
It wasn't an easy fix. It had been a process that took weeks and was an investment in time and therapist fees. But it was possible. She caught up on the necessary vaccines for college, along with couple weeks after that received her first Covid-19 vaccine.
After she was fully vaccinated for Covid-19, her mom greenlighted her to go on sleepovers, play team sports, shop in the mall, and do everything that this young teenager loved prior to the pandemic.
Techniques for handling needle phobia
If your child struggles with a needle phobia, here are some tips that might help from Cedars Sinai:
- Make sure your son or daughter looks away. No need to watch the injection.
- Numb the area. Many pediatricians uses topical anesthetics to assist with pain.
- Use relaxation techniques. Try breathing or visualizing a peaceful scene.
- Try distraction. Maybe it's a game in your phone, a TikTok video, or something like that.
- Focus around the pay-off. Getting the Covid-19 vaccine is loaded with lots of benefits for the kids, and concentrating on those benefits might help kids manage the temporary discomfort of the shot.
