Juhl: How to Prepare Your Child for COVID-19 Vaccines

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Nobody likes getting needles. They can sting and are often given in an unfamiliar environment by an unfamiliar person. It is normal to be afraid, especially if you are a small person.

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By the time a child is in elementary school, they’ve already had up to 15 shots, “so they have a history,” said Annick Otis, an advanced practice nurse at Montreal Children’s Hospital. What is important to understand is that fear of pain can fuel doubts about vaccines.

“If we could guarantee that there was no pain, we would have greater compliance with the vaccine,” Otis said.

Health Canada will approve the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to 11 on Friday, multiple media outlets reported Thursday. Quebec officials said their goal is for the first doses to be given before Christmas.

The plan is to use a “hybrid approach”, with some children vaccinated in schools and appointments available on Health Click for parents who want to accompany their children. If vaccines are given through schools, more children can be attacked quickly and children can help each other.

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Preparing for vaccination, all vaccines, not just COVID-19, can be done in three stages, starting in the days leading up to the injection, Otis said.

A few days before vaccination.

Have an honest conversation with your son, Otis said. Stay calm and confident, but don’t lie, because there will probably be a pinch when it happens and we want to ensure our child’s confidence. Talk about the procedure, but also why they are getting the shot and how the vaccine will protect them and the people they know.

Focus on what will happen and where the nurse will help take care of them.

“We have tricks” to help with fear and pain, says Otis. “We have evidence-based tricks. The nurse knows what to do. Tell them the nurse will be quick, get it in the right place, and use the correct dose. Tell them she’s not the bad guy. “

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Take a few days to train and come up with a plan that might include an incentive for when you’re done, like a high-five or a sticker or other gift.

Teach your child how to make his arm relax like spaghetti when in the vaccination chair. They can count and use deep breathing to stay calm. Younger kids who are already good at imagining can pretend to blow bubbles, Otis said: “Your whole body relaxes when you breathe out.”

The day of vaccination

Parents may not be present if the launch is held at school. This is where the foundation prepared in the previous days comes into play. Sitting down to get a vaccine is more comfortable than lying down, Otis said. Restraining a child who is afraid will not help in the short term, and certainly not in the long term.

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Pharmacists can administer numbing creams to the injection site and show parents how and when to apply them.

Autistic children may need individual attention, and their parents are in the best position to lead the plan, Otis said. It is best for a child with autism to be with his parents and in a quiet, family environment. A topical anesthetic can help. They should wear clothing that allows easy access to the vaccination site.

“There is no one-size-fits-all strategy, but parents know their children best, so together they can plan this,” Otis said.

After the jab

Phew. It’s over. Smile and praise the child for his bravery, even if he had a meltdown or didn’t go exactly as planned.

If it didn’t go well, talk with your child about what worked and what didn’t and adjust the plan for next time. And give them their reward no matter what.

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If there is pain at the injection site, ice and rest will help, as will assurance that the pain is normal and won’t last forever, Otis said. Ibuprofen can be used after vaccination, but parents should always speak with a doctor before administering medication to their child.

Standardize vaccines with open and honest dialogue, Otis said. Most of the children will be fine.

And we will get through this too.

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