Tips to comfort your kid's needle nervousness before the COVID-19 shot
As children aged five to 11 prepare to roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 vaccine, one obstacle between now and normalcy, is overcoming any fear of needles.
“It looks kind of dangerous,” 10-year-old Cohen Goyette told CTV News in an interview Monday about needles. “But I know what it can do, it can help me.”
Goyette isn’t afraid of other common phobias like spiders or snakes and plans to get the shot along with his siblings. Despite that, he says he’ll still be nervous about it.
“When I took him to get his last flu shot, he actually ended up kicking the pharmacist in the stomach,” said his mom Maria Isenor.
“I’m still scared about it,” he said.
Dr. Christine Chambers said a fear of needles is common in kids and adults, although adults don’t like to talk about it. The Dalhousie Professor’s advice to parents is to openly communicate with their child that a needle will be necessary and before, and during the appointment, find a way to help distract your child.
“I always bring my iPhone to doctors’ appointments with my kids so they can watch Youtube videos or play a video game,” she said. “Research shows that distraction really, really works when it comes to supporting kids with vaccination.”
Chambers notes relaxation is also key. She recommends helping kids take some deep breaths.
“Blow some bubbles. Relax their muscles like spaghetti noodles,” she said.
Chambers also suggests providing some kind of incentive like a small treat, or something to look forward to afterward.
In Nova Scotia, pharmacists will be tasked with vaccinating children. Pharmacists are already used to administering flu shots and understand different patients have different needs.
“We treat it, every child differently, every patient differently because we’ve seen needle phobias in every age as we’re going through this,” said Diane Harpell with the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.
Harpell said some kids bring in a stuffed toy for comfort, while others are confident about it and don’t need any reassurances. She also notes kids feed off the parent’s energy.
“If you’re nervous about it, they’re going to nervous about,” she said. “But if you’re nervous, just tell them you are and just say, 'It’s okay to be nervous.'"
Goyette has some advice for others who might also be nervous.
“Maybe try to think of it as something not something so bad,” he said. “Because the COVID vaccine will most likely save your life for having it and other people like your family. Your friends.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.