This post is made possible with support from the Meg Foundation. All opinions are my own.
We learned about our son’s needle anxiety when he was 10 years old. After months of seasonal medicine and eye drops, our doctor finally prescribed allergy shots every 3 months. Quick and easy, we thought! The first shot came into his gluteus maximus, he laughed a nervous giggle, and it was over. Sitting back up, legs dangling over the table, he looked down at his feet and then went head first onto the floor! 71 pounds of dead weight landing right on his forehead, his eyes wide with shock as he came to. We learned this vasovagal syncope response was normal and it, unfortunately, would continue through childhood through his allergy shots, vaccines, and even dentist visits.
My son is now 20 years old, in college in Hawaii, and had an appointment for his first Covid-19 vaccine a week ago. He was hesitant, the thought of needles or even talking about them frustrates him. It’s something he feels is out of his control. In May, he’ll return to California for the first time since August 2020, and he knew this was the best thing to do so he could be safe for our family. This was the text I received from him following his appointment, and I cried with happiness:
It’s important to know that needle anxiety is real, but it shouldn’t embarrass you because there are simple solutions. The Meg Foundation’s Hack the Vax website is a great place to go for techniques, skills, and support so your next vaccine experience is a positive one! Action is the enemy of anxiety, and having a plan can be life-changing. By making a plan using the techniques, you can push through needle fears. The more concrete your plan; the better you’ll feel.
Go on the site to plot out your plan of action so you can #ThinkPlanGo. THINK about someone you know who may secretly be scared of needles, help them make a PLAN for which technique will work best from the Hack the Vax site, then encourage them to get a vaccine appointment and GO use their getting-over-needle-fears plan. My son can attest to the fear, but ultimately he wants to get back to his family safely and that’s the drive he needed to overcome it! I’m eager to get that “no pass out” text for his second shot, so he’ll be making his plan.
This pandemic has shown us that we have to work together for a common goal. We are all in this together and getting our communities safe is the task at hand. Think, plan, and go get your shot without fear, and pass on these techniques, because you never know when someone else is feeling nervous.
Leave a Reply