Someday, there may be a delivery system for vaccine that will not hurt. Until that day comes, child care providers can help children prepare for and recover from the trauma of immunization. Explain that some medicines can be taken into the mouth, but some won't work that way. Encourage children to play and talk about injections. Adults must remember to keep their own attitudes about injections positive and appropriate.
Children learn needle phobia from adults.
Susan S. Aronson, MD, FAAP, is clinical professor of pediatrics and a primary care pediatrician at St. Christopher's Primary Pediatric Practice at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Board of Directors. Go to the next article . Return to the May 1997 Newsletter Table of Contents Page. Return to the HCCA Newsletter Page .