Make Vaccine Shots Less Stressful for your Child

Make Vaccine Shots Less Stressful and Painful for your Child

Getting a shot can be scary for kids. Here are some tips to comfort your child before, during, and after their shot.

Before

• Be honest with your child: Shots can pinch or sting, but they don’t hurt for long
• Help your child see vaccines as a good thing. Tell them vaccines keep them safe from germs that might make them sick.
• Don’t tell your child scary stories or make threats about shots

During

• Bring a favorite toy or blanket for your child to hug
• Hold your child in a comforting position, such as on your lab
• Distract your child such as with a story, a video, or conversation.
• Ask the vaccine provider if they have a numbing ointment or spray to apply before the shot

After

• Hug and praise your child
• Remind your child why vaccines are good. Tell them their body is already making germ fighters to keep them safe and healthy.
• Consider rewarding your child, such as with a sweet treat or a sticker

General points on eligible children getting COVID-19 vaccines

• A vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19 - all available COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19
• Getting vaccinated gets us back to normal- getting vaccinated is the best way to defeat this virus and get back to safely gathering with friends, in-person school, concerts, sporting events, and travel
• All the COVID-19 vaccines recommended for use in the United States are safe – millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines and these vaccines will continue t undergo extensive safety monitoring. CDC recommends getting the vaccines as soon as possible
• A vaccine is the best way to protect your child from COVID-19 – all available COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.
• Talk to your pediatrician or family medicine provider if you have questions - It’s perfectly normal to have questions about your child’s care. Talk with your child’s clinician to address specific questions.

For more information, visit cdc.gov/caronavirus