Creating a positive vaccination experience increases confidence in vaccination. Anxiety about needles and injections is common among children and adults. This contributes to dreading, delaying, or avoiding vaccinations, even when the importance of preventing illness is understood. There are effective and practical steps that the vaccination provider, the recipient, and the recipient’s caregivers or companions can take to reduce vaccination-related pain and anxiety. The print and video resources on this page, as well as links to resources from other credible organizations, can help.
RESOURCES
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Children: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
This 1-page handout describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for children. Several useful resources are also listed.
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants and Toddlers: Strategies for Parents and Caregivers
This 1-page handout, designed for parents and caregivers, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for infants and toddlers. Several useful resources are also listed.
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety in Adolescents and Adults: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
This 1-page handout, designed for vaccine recipients and caregivers, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for adolescents and adults. Several useful resources are also listed.
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
Learn the practical steps that families can take before, during, and after a vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for an infant or toddler. (Source: Immunize.org)
Why Vaccines Work
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety in Children: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
Fainting Related to Vaccination: What You Need to Know
More Resources
Autism Society of America Vaccine Education Initiative (VEI)
The Autism Society of America and its partners have developed fact-based resources to support the Autism community and healthcare providers in achieving more equitable care.
HELP Eliminate Pain in Kids & Adults (University of Toronto)
This organization, affiliated with The Hospital for Sick Children at the University of Toronto in Canada, has developed many resources to address pain and anxiety. Most information is for healthcare professionals, but some information may be helpful for families, too.