New clinical guidelines aim to reduce vaccination distress and fear

An updated clinical guideline published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) provides 16 recommendations to reduce vaccination-related distress, including fear and pain. The guidance aims to assist clinicians, vaccination providers, and recipients, noting that needle-related fear affects between 33% and 63% of children and 14% to 63% of adults. Such distress is a contributing factor to vaccine hesitancy in approximately 10% of people across all age groups.

The recommendations are organized into a ‘5P’ framework: process, procedural, physical, pharmacological, and psychological. Key suggestions include:

• Process: Educating all parties involved about distress-reducing interventions. • Procedural: Utilizing methods like rapid injections to minimize discomfort. • Physical: Using breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or pacifiers for infants under 12 months. • Pharmacological: Applying topical anesthetics at injection sites for all ages. • Psychological: Employing distraction techniques such as toys, singing, music, or digital devices.

Authors emphasize that individuals and caregivers should select the strategies that work best for them. The update builds upon the 2015 HELPinKids&Adults Collaborative recommendations.