Overcoming vaccine anxiety

Is your child afraid before getting vaccinated? Do you worry about their stress before doctor’s appointments for shots? You’re not the only one! Many kids get anxious about vaccines and needles. Children naturally fear pain, and it might not improve as they grow older. Discussing vaccines with your child before can help ease anxiety. Trust and honesty from caregivers are key in building resilience in children. Discover how to help your child feel better about appointments early on and what to do if their fear becomes overwhelming.

First, let’s talk about the most important step, preparation. No matter your child’s age, you can provide developmentally appropriate preparation. A common misconception around vaccines is that if you talk about it to your already anxious child, it is going to make the anxiety worse. Research shows children cope better when they know what to expect. Children also cope better when they have learned that they can trust their caregiver to tell them the truth, even when it is something that they do not want to hear. This not only builds trust with the child and caregiver, this sets the child up for developing positive coping strategies. Learning to overcome situations that may be uncomfortable and upsetting, challenge our kids to learn how to overcome these situations and build confidence that they can do hard things.

The timing of when you talk to your child is so important!

• Toddlers and preschoolers: aim for 30-60 minutes prior to the vaccine. This is appropriate for their developmental level. If you talk about it too far in advance it can be difficult for the child to remember the information shared. It can also create additional anxiety for children if they are told too far in advance.

• School-aged children: think 2-3 days ahead of time. This allows for plenty of time for the child to ask questions and for you to create a coping plan with your child. Be sure to have this conversation at a time when you can sit with them and they can ask any questions they may have after.

• Teenagers: you will want to provide the information as soon as you know. This is important as it builds trust between the caregiver and teen that you were not withholding information from them and provides plenty of time to process feelings and develop coping plan.

Now what do you say? When prepping your child, keep it simple. Explain why your child needs the vaccine. “Shot’s give our body medicine that helps keep us healthy.” Think about what your child will experience and provide brief sequence of events. Consider the different senses that your child will experience, smell, touch, hear, taste and see. “A nurse will first clean your arm with a wipe. This will feel cold and wet. The shot is very fast and the nurse will put a band-aid on when it is done”.

Is your child asking for more information? That's great! It could mean they're ready for more details. If your child appears uninterested, that's alright too. Keep it simple and remember you can discuss it later. Their disinterest might not mean they're not interested, but just how they're processing the information.

Answering Your Child's "Will it Hurt?" Concerns

If your child asks, "Will it hurt?" Stay calm. It's fine to be honest. Say, "It could be uncomfortable. Let's make a plan to make it easier for you." Provide pain relief choices. There are many amazing products on the market to help provide pain management during vaccinations. Your pediatrician may have these, if not consider purchasing and bringing with to your appointments!

-Buzzy: Using “gate-control” pain relief by confusing the body’s nerves that send the signal of pain to the brain. It is easy to use simply by turning on and placing on the injection site for 30-60 seconds then moving buzzy between the “pain” and the “brain” (between the injection site and the brain, typically above the injection site.) Buzzy works great for all age groups. Buzzy’s website has great information for decreasing needle pain and research on how to utilize this tool effectively!

-Numbing creams: Discuss with doctor for OTC numbing cream (e.g., LMX, EMLA) to apply beforehand. Use cling wrap and tape to secure. LMX acts in 30 mins; EMLA in 60 mins.

- Cold spray: Ask your pediatrician if they have freezy or cold spray that can be applied to the vaccination area prior to injection. Freezy spray should only be used for children 3 and older.

-Shot Blockers: These work by using a number of blunt contact points to overwhelm the sensory signals around an injection that can help distract your child from the pain signal of pain. These work great for school-aged children paired with education on how the shot blocker works.

After preparing, involve kids in decisions to enhance coping. Offering realistic choices empowers children, fostering a sense of control in challenging situations. Realistic choices are options for things that you can say yes to!

Examples include-

• Where does your child want to sit during their shot?

• Do they want to pick their left or right arm?

• Do they want to bring their favorite stuffy to hold at the doctor?

• Watch a favorite show or listen to music during the shot?

These are all options that are available to your child to help make this process easier and help them feel more in control. If your child is having a hard time, write down their requests together. Bring the list to the appointment to show the nurse. This shows your child you support them and helps build trust.

It's time for your doctor's visit. Implement your plan to help your child cope with vaccinations. Encourage them to ask questions and request comfort measures. Show them it's normal to seek support during medical procedures. Reassure and praise them for their bravery.

So, how did it go? Did your kid do great? Did they struggle? That’s okay either way! Take time to talk with your child about what went well and what did not after. If it was a really challenging experience, validate your child’s feelings and help them return to baseline. “I can see that really hurt. Shots hurt. You did such a great job sitting in mommy’s lap.”

What do you want to avoid saying?

• Try to avoid passing blame on medical staff. “Oh that nurse was so mean. I won’t let them do that ever again.” This may feel good in the moment, but it plants a seed in your child’s head that medical staff are mean and people that hurt them. As children will become adults who have to continue navigating the healthcare experience, we want to help foster trust from an early age. Telling your child this won’t happen again is not true. Your child will have to get vaccines again and you want to be truthful with your child to continue building trust.

• Downplaying your child’s emotions. “It’s okay. Don’t cry.” Crying is a form of coping! Your child’s tears are valid. Shot’s hurt and to your child they don’t feel okay. Instead try, “You are safe. Let me give you a big hug. I can see that hurt.”

Discussing tough topics with your child teaches them it's okay to talk about difficult things, knowing you're there to help. It's also a chance to learn from mistakes and make a better plan for the future.

Seeing your child upset due to vaccine anxiety can be a challenging experience for any parent. However, it's important to remember that you are the one who knows your child best, and you possess the necessary skills, along with an abundance of love, to support them during this time. If you find yourself needing additional guidance beyond the resources provided here, don't hesitate to schedule a free consultation. It can offer you the opportunity to thoroughly examine your concerns and gain tailored advice to help your child through this difficult period.