How to get vaccinated if you are afraid of needles

Most people don’t particularly like needles.

But for a significant number of people, fear of needles goes beyond simply causing anxiety in a more dangerous area, where fear prevents them from seeking necessary medical attention.

And as the world’s hopes for a return to post-pandemic normal largely rest on people’s willingness to take a Covid-19 vaccine, experts and healthcare professionals assure these people that there are ways to overcome this fear.

“It would be heartbreaking for me if fear of needles prevented someone from getting the vaccine, because there are things we can do to alleviate that,” said Dr. Nipunie S. Rajapakse, infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. .

A University of Michigan study found that 16% of adults in several countries avoided annual flu shots because of fear of needles, and 20% avoided tetanus shots.

Mary Rogers, a retired professor at the University of Michigan and one of the study’s authors, said it was too early to know whether a similar number of people would abstain from the Covid-19 vaccine. But that fear tends to decrease as people get older – which is of concern as outbreaks of coronavirus cases have been caused by young people, who are more likely to have the phobia.

Experts say this is a problem that can be overcome, whether fear prevents you from getting the vaccine or is just causing you distress. Here are the steps they suggest you take.

Seek professional help to overcome the phobia.

A therapist can help people with more serious fears, using some of the techniques that help people overcome other fears that can affect their lives.

“When we are really worried about a fear, it is when it gets to the point that it interferes with the person receiving the proper medical care, or causes such distress that yes, it will. ‘before and get the flu shot or the vaccine, but they’re sick for a month thinking about getting it,’ said Dianne Chambless, retired University of Pennsylvania professor of psychology.

With other phobias, professionals will often recommend slowly exposing yourself to fear, such as someone who is afraid of heights gradually spending more time on a balcony. But this is more difficult to do with the needles, as the shots are infrequent and easy to avoid.

Dr Chambless suggested working on your comfort level by looking at photos of needles and syringes first, then photos of someone taking a photo and working on videos. But a therapist can come up with a more comprehensive plan.

If you can’t see a therapist, self-help books on overcoming phobias might be a faster option, she said.

Talk to the nurse about your fears before getting the vaccine.

There may be techniques they can use, or products available, to reduce pain or be more patient, Dr. Rajapakse said.

If it is helpful to have someone with you to help you, some vaccination centers may allow it, but you will need to ask in advance.

Some people’s fears can be so severe that they may fade away. If so, the nurse may be able to administer the vaccine with you lying down or help reduce the risk, said Dr Rajapakse.

If fainting is a risk and you start to feel dizzy, Dr. Chambless suggested tensing the muscles in your body to raise blood pressure in your head.

Distract yourself.

The whole thing will be over in seconds and a distraction can help you get through it.

It could be a YouTube video on your phone or your favorite song currently playing. You can practice deep or meditative breathing techniques, or wiggle your toes, or look around and count all the blue objects you can see in the room.

Many people choose not to look directly at the needle. You don’t need to see it.

“Bring your attention to what’s going on,” Dr Rajapakse said.

Focus on the benefits.

For some people, the nervous anticipation of the shot is almost as bad as the pinch itself.

But in the case of the Covid-19 vaccine, there is a long way to go if the vaccine is successful in returning to normalcy. Dr Rajapakse said that when she received her first dose, “my personal feeling was one of optimism and excitement rather than feeling nervous about it.”

“Keeping that in mind can make this experience a little less nervous for you,” she said.

The media can do their part by showing fewer images of people appearing uncomfortable as a needle penetrates their skin, which can worsen feelings of anxiety, Dr Rajapakse said.

A good countermeasure is the set of positive photos emerging on social media of people holding their vaccination cards, she said. (Just be careful how much information you share.) The more selfies, stickers, and thankful messages people see, the more likely they are to associate the vaccine with positive feelings, she said. .