What can I do to decrease my child’s fear of getting immunized?

Getting immunized can be anxiety provoking for children and parents, however, the benefits of immunization outweigh the risks. Children can often sense when a parent is nervous or anxious. If a parent is anxious about their child’s immunization, the child will be more likely to become anxious and upset about receiving the immunization.

It is important to keep the environment calm and reassuring from a very early age. Infants are too little to have the fear and anxiety of getting an immunization but they can still sense the anxiety of a parent and be unsettled. Parents can play a supportive role in easing the fear of getting immunized by trying the following:

• Remain calm and confident about getting immunizations or send another adult, such as a spouse or other family member, who can remain calm during the immunization if necessary.
• Reassure your child that you will be with them during the immunization.
• Allow some time for the child to calm down before leaving the health centre. Leaving abruptly may leave your child with the impression that the health centre is a bad place to visit.
• Offer your infant a soother.
• Nurse your baby.
• Sing a calm and gentle song to comfort them.
• Offer an older infant their favorite toy, doll, or blanket for comfort.

As your child gets older, there are other age appropriate ways in which you can ease their fears of getting an immunization. They include:

• Explain why it is important that your child receives their immunizations.
• Watch a video or read a book from the library about immunizations.
• Explain that the needle will hurt a little, but the discomfort does not last long.
• Take a comfort item like their favorite stuffed animal, toy, doll, or blanket.
• Play doctor with stuffed animals and dolls. Talk about what will be involved in getting an immunization .
• Use distraction techniques by letting your child squeeze your hand or blow a party blower or bubbles to blow away the pain.
• Talk with your child about other ways in which your child may handle the situation: Your child may have other ways in which they deal with stressful situations like: counting or deep breathing.
• Let your child listen to their favorite song on a pair of headphones.
• Plan on doing something fun together after the immunization is over.

The discomfort of immunizations, far lessen the effects of illness.

For more information about Immunizations, or for available programs and services, contact Health Link Alberta where nurses are available 24-7 to provide health advice and information. Call 1-866-408-LINK (5465) or 780-408-LINK (Edmonton area) or 403-943-LINK (Calgary area).