HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini

Helping with fear of vaccination

Awhinatia mai – Whiua te ngarara

If you or your tamaiti (child) are anxious about having a vaccination (immunisation) or you are scared of needles, there are several things that can help.

Helping your child

You will need to comfort and reassure your tamaiti before and after their vaccination.

If you are anxious about your child's vaccination, it may be helpful to bring a support person to help.

Do not give your tamaiti paracetamol or ibuprofen before their vaccination. Health professionals do not recommend this. But you may give your tamaiti pain relief afterwards if they have a fever or pain.

Before and during the vaccination

Do not use scary words about having a needle or an injection and do not tell them it will not hurt.

• Bring your child’s favourite stuffed toy, blanket, book or game for them to hold and use to distract them.
• Hold your tamaiti firmly, talk calmly and gently stroke their arm or back.
• You may choose to breastfeed your pēpi (baby) while they get their vaccination.
• Try to stay calm even if your tamaiti gets upset.
• For older tamariki (children) you may choose to buy a numbing cream from a pharmacy. This is put on least one hour before the vaccination.

After the vaccination

While your tamaiti may cry for a short time, this is a normal way of coping. Try to stay calm while comforting them with words and holding them.

Feeding your pēpi straight after their vaccination may help calm them.

Distract your tamaiti with a favourite stuffed toy, blanket, book or game.

You will need to stay for 20 minutes after the vaccination. So, take something to keep them busy while you wait.

Adults

Prepare for your vaccination visit by:

• arranging it at a time when you are not rushed or tired
• bringing a support person with you
• using relaxation techniques like calming breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation before and during your vaccination
• distracting yourself by listening to music with headphones, reading, playing on a cellphone or chatting to a friend.

If you are worried about the needle hurting, tell the vaccinator. They can give you advice about ways to reduce the pain.

You can buy a numbing cream from a pharmacy to put on your skin where you will get the injection. Put it on at least one hour before your vaccination. It will be wiped off just before your injection.

If you are concerned about fainting:

• ask to have your vaccination lying down.
• try applied muscle tension exercises. They are safe techniques to reduce light-headedness or fainting when exposed to needles. Practise this sequence 3 times a day every day for about a week before your vaccination.
  • Sitting in a chair, tense or squeeze the muscles in your legs and stomach for 10 to 15 seconds until your face feels flushed or warm.
  • Release the tension for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Repeat until the injection is over or the feeling of faintness passes.
  • Hold a squeezy toy or ball or a support person's hand if desired.

If you have severe anxiety about vaccination or needles talk to your general practice team about other options such as medication.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• The Immunisation Advisory Centre – Tips when immunising children

  Detailed information for parents.

  HealthInfo recommends the following apps

• oVRcome

  A virtual reality app to help you overcome social anxiety and phobias such as fear of needles. There is a free version that shows you how the app works but you need to pay for the app to go through the full programme.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2025.

Sources

Page reference: 896163

Review key: HIIMM-47872