Fear of needles and vaccines is often associated with the phobia of medical injections. It is estimated that up to 10% of children will refuse or resist such injections. Some people may have a fear of needles, however, there are other factors that contribute to the fear and anxiety levels associated with needles. The needle itself can be very intimidating, which can lead to feelings of panic in patients. Injections themselves are painful for some, though not all, patients; this pain may be accompanied by feelings of dizziness and nausea. Anxiety about injections can already be high in children who are nervous about getting shots or immunizations because they are afraid they will hurt or get hurt by them. ## How to overcome the fear of injections Medical injections are a necessary part of staying healthy and as technology advances, the injection process is becoming less painful. Medical professionals and researchers are constantly looking for new methods to make getting an injection as painless as possible. Newer techniques focus on using smaller needles, injecting local anaesthetics before the procedure, and changing the needle’s angle so that it doesn’t pierce as deeply into the skin. One of the most successful ways to overcome this fear is by being in control of your injection. There are various ways you can do this including: self-administering injections with a syringe or needleless injector or having someone else administer it for you. ## Vaccines are here to save lives Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect our health and prevent disease. They have saved millions of lives and prevented countless numbers of disabilities in the past century. The timing for vaccines is critical: some require multiple doses, some can be given together with other vaccines, and some should be given as early as possible to provide the best protection. We are all vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases, including adults who may be too young or too old to get a certain vaccine, people with medical conditions that affect their immune system, and people who cannot receive certain vaccines due to allergies or other reasons. This is why it’s so important for everyone in our communities – not just babies – to get vaccinated.
