Creating a positive vaccination experience increases confidence in vaccination. Anxiety about needles and injections is common among children and adults. This contributes to dreading, delaying, or avoiding vaccinations, even when the importance of preventing illness is understood. There are effective and practical steps that the vaccination provider, the recipient, and the recipient’s caregivers or companions can take to reduce vaccination-related pain and anxiety. The print and video resources on this page, as well as links to resources from other credible organizations, can help.
Printable Resources
Materials for Providers
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants and Toddlers Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Immunize.org’s 1-page handout, designed for healthcare personnel, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for infants and toddlers. Several useful resources are also listed
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Children Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Immunize.org’s 1-page handout, designed for healthcare personnel, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for children. Several useful resources are also listed
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety in Adolescents and Adults: Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Immunize.org’s 1-page handout, designed for healthcare personnel, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for adolescents and adults. Several useful resources are also listed
Vaccination-Related Syncope: Information for Healthcare Personnel
This 1-page handout for healthcare personnel describes how syncope (fainting) sometimes occurs around vaccination, how practitioners can reduce the risk of occurrence, and how to respond if it does occur, plus includes useful resources
Materials for Vaccine Recipients
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants and Toddlers Strategies for Parents and Caregivers
This 1-page handout, designed for parents and caregivers, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for infants and toddlers. Several useful resources are also listed.
- Also available in:
- Spanish
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Children Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
This 1-page handout, designed for vaccine recipients and caregivers, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for children. Several useful resources are also listed.
- Also available in:
- Spanish
Addressing Vaccination Anxiety in Adolescents and Adults: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
This 1-page handout, designed for vaccine recipients and caregivers, describes strategies that can be followed before, during, and after the vaccination visit to improve the vaccination experience for adolescents and adults. Several useful resources are also listed
- Also available in:
- Spanish
Fainting Related to Vaccination: What You Need to Know
A 1-page handout for patients and caregivers describes symptoms of fainting (syncope), how it can occur around vaccination, how to reduce the risk of vaccination-related fainting, and what to do if someone faints during vaccination
- Also available in:
- Spanish
Webinars
Improving the Vaccination Experience: Reducing Pain and Anxiety for Children and Adults
Immunize.org and experts from HELP Eliminate Pain in Kids and Adults discuss the principles behind vaccination pain and anxiety, and simple, evidence-based strategies to reduce apprehension. Dr. Anna Taddio’s research on these topics is used by WHO, Public Health Canada, and others to develop guidelines for reducing vaccination pain.
Improving the Vaccination Experience: Accessible Vaccination for Neurodiverse People at Any Age
In this webinar, the Autism Society discusses practical tips to improve vaccine confidence by employing strategies to reduce stress when vaccinating neurodiverse patients.
Videos
Webinars
More Resources
The Autism Society of America and partners have developed fact-based resources to support the Autism community and healthcare providers in achieving more equitable care.
Autism Society VEI Resources:
Autism Society: Fear of needles and the COVID-19 vaccine: A guide for professionals when working with people with disabilities
Autism Society: Fear of needles and the COVID-19 vaccine: A guide for professionals when working with people with disabilities
Fear of needles and the COVID-19 vaccine: A guide for caregivers
HELP Eliminate Pain in Kids & Adults (University of Toronto)
The Comfort-Ask-Relax-Distract System (AboutKidsHealth – University of Toronto)
(mobile web game)
for health care professionals and trainees (from Canadian Public Health Association, requires registration)
Evidence and Guidelines
Government of Canada
World Health Organization (WHO)
Immunization Stress-Related Response: A Manual for Program Managers and Health Professionals to Prevent, Identify and Respond to Stress-Related Responses Following Immunization
Canada Communicable Disease Report