COMIC: When kids are afraid of vaccines, try these tips to help them overcome:

news7g03/08/2022

2 Less than a minute

COMIC: When kids are afraid of vaccines, try these tips to help them overcome:

When cartoonist and doctor Grace Farris discovered that her young son had a fear of needles, she knew she needed help – especially with her annual flu shots and two vaccines. COVID in the boy’s near future. So Farris turned to medical literature and experts to learn how breathing techniques, distractions and even bribes can help kids who are scared of the dreaded stabbing. .

Dr. Grace Farris narrated, "In 2020, when my 8-year-old got his flu shot, I realized he had a fear of needles." Farris is seen hugging his son at the doctor's office while he closes his eyes and exclaims, "I can not do it! I can not!"

As a doctor, I feel pretty bad about this. Shouldn't my child be a model patient? What did I do wrong? What can I do to help him through this? Farris saw a social media post on her phone. There is a young girl with a bandana in her hand and the post says: "We won't know if Agnes took a placebo..." Farris is thinking, "OH! The kids signing up for this COVID vaccine trial are amazing!"

Fast-forward to fall 2021, and there are three spikes emerging into our future. Flu vaccine, first COVID vaccine and second COVID vaccine. Three needles with faces representing each vaccine standing up. flu shot says, "Like pumpkins, I come back every fall!" The first COVID vaccine wore sunglasses and it pointed to the second COVID vaccine while saying, "We are the exciting new people in town!"

After a brief spiral of doom, it occurred to me that I should do what I would with any other clinically predicament: conduct a literature review and consult with some Experts. A laptop is displayed on the PubMed website. And a health professional with a stethoscope around his neck is waving to viewers.

My assessment confirms that many children, and even a lot of adults, struggle with needle phobia. One study reported that up to one-third of hospital staff abandoned flu shots because of fear of needles. Two medical staff with a pensive expression in the emergency room. One is thinking, "Oof, needles!" Others are thinking, "Oops, needles."

But with three shots impending, I needed a solution! Some pre-COVID research showed a distraction over device time, but after two years of seemingly endless screen use, I doubt that this will act as a strong distraction. Farris's two sons sit with their digital devices. There was an arrow pointing at the youngest son that said "My son has no needle problems."

The pediatricians I spoke to had some other suggestions. Joslyn Nolasco, a pediatrician at UCSF, says she sees a lot of needle phobia. Nolasco stood in her doctor coat. ear piece. She speaks, "We remind parents not to lie, but not to dwell on it or discuss it too much, as that will only increase anxiety. We use deep breathing, distracting with toys and bubbles..."

Farris said: “My kids are a bit old for bubbles, but Nolasco says there are devices called "ShotBlockers" may help desensitize the injection site.

What is ShotBlocker? Illustration of a small piece of plastic in the shape of a half-moon with blunt particles distributed over the device. There is an arrow pointing to the device indicating "The straight nozzle distributes the pressure around the injection site." Nolasco stood underneath the device saying, "Sometimes just discussing that we have these tools at our disposal will help older kids get over the hump."

For younger kids, Nolasco recommends magic or pretend play. A young girl with braids raises her muscular arms. She wears hot pink pants with bright bolts, a lighter pink shirt that says "Girl shot!" and a yellow cloak. Above her were the words: A new superhero!

Most of the techniques I've read seem to boil down to three main categories. Two of these are written on paper lists that are taped and pinned up. One reader: Distractions. TV, Jokes, Books, question marks. Another wrote: Bribery, usually my act. TV, Candy, Pokemon cards, Toys. Beneath these listings is a bag of worms full of plastic along with a book titled Bear Goes To The Doctor!

More ticked lists than the last technical description: physical manipulation. ShotBlockers, Cough Tricks (quick cough before, during and after the shot), squeeze a foam ball or pant like a dog. Box breathing is another technique. Inhale for 4 seconds. Hold the breath for 4 seconds. Exhale for 4 seconds. Hold for 4 seconds. Finally, in some cases, therapy is also an effective next step.

After all this crawling, I can't say I'm proud of what happened next. As always, I took the path of least resistance: bribery. Farris standing next to her two children looked at her incredulously. She speaks, "You know, I've heard that some parents are letting their kids curse when they get a COVID shot..."

Swearing is not a medical recommendation. Just something other parents have tried. Farris' eldest son said, "Really?!"

Farris wears a mask and coat inside a pharmacy. Her son was sitting in a chair next to a health worker who was giving him an injection. He was shown profanity. I told the pharmacist our plan and the promise of the curse with the vaccine seemed to help. I just hope it doesn't become a habit.

Farris holds her phone and on the screen is the Google homepage search interface. Farris entered "How to stop a child from swearing?".

Dr. Grace Farris is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell School of Medicine. her books, Mother’s Milestones, released in the spring. You can find her on Instagram @coupdegracefarris.

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news7g03/08/2022

2 Less than a minute