What do you think: "vaccine caution" or an embarassing fear of needles?

[ronandannette]

I knew someone that was super fearful of needles. This is a legit phobia. Everyone is not going to get the vaccination. Hopefully enough gets it to slow this thing down.

I've never known a competent adult that couldn't think past what ever aversion they have for the sake of their health. If I were the OP I'd get therapy to address the issue and stop trying to rationalize it with the idea of "vaccine caution". When you can admit to yourself you'd rather give up travel (and possibly many other freedoms) than endure a 5 second physical discomfort - you have to know it's a mental health issue creating disfunction in your life.

 

[ashley0139]

I have a severe fear of needles, although it doesn't come to phobia level. I'll get the vaccine when I am eligible, but I'm going to have a hard time with the needle.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I despise needles but the covid vaccine is pretty painless. I got my second one today and I didn’t even feel it.

 

[goofyernmost]

I have an overwhelming fear of dying alone of Covid19. Needles are the least of the problems. When I had my first vaccine shot two weeks ago I didn't even feel it at all. Then again, I was in the service for 4 years where they regularly used me as a pin cushion, but be it fear of needles or fear of vaccine, I can tell you what I know about this Virus. Covid has killed over 2 million people worldwide and left many with lingering problems that no one knows will go away. The vaccine has shown no out of ordinary reactions after millions have been vaccinated. It seems like there should be an overwhelming fear of the virus.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have an overwhelming fear of dying alone of Covid19. Needles are the least of the problems. When I had my first vaccine shot two weeks ago I didn't even feel it at all. Then again, I was in the service for 4 years where they regularly used me as a pin cushion, but be it fear of needles or fear of vaccine, I can tell you what I know about this Virus. Covid has killed over 2 million people worldwide and left many with lingering problems that no one knows will go away. The vaccine has shown no out of ordinary reactions after millions have been vaccinated. It seems like there should be an overwhelming fear of the virus.

Sadly, there are some who deny the virus even exists. With that mindset, they think "why get a vaccination?"

 

[tcufrog]

There is a special form of therapy for phobias called exposure therapy. A crippling phobia of needles can be life-threatening if it gets in the way of you obtaining necessary medical treatment. I strongly recommend seeing a psychologist to treat this.

 

[NotUrsula]

FTR. I'm not so phobic about needles that I avoid medical treatment; I'm not 6 anymore. (Also, FWIW, my issue isn't a fear of pain; I just really hate the idea of metal penetrating human flesh.) When I said that I sometimes avoided travel, I meant that it may have influenced my choice of what country to visit, not that I didn't travel at all. If I really, really wanted to go to a certain place, I'd suck it up. I'm really not in need of therapy, thanks.

I posted the question because my initial gut reaction of "God, I wish that I didn't have to do this!!!" made me wonder just how many people are hiding a fear of needles behind a professed mistrust of vaccines.

 

[leebee]

I am really apprehensive- not about the vaccine, but about my reaction to it. I'm not talking typical reactions to vaccines. My body reacts to any type of IM injection by forming a large, hard knot in the muscle at the injection site. I can feel it- it's about the size of a hazelnut- and it lasts for at least a week. It HURTS; just laying the sheet on it, or the pressure from a sleeve, causes pain. I avoid injections at all costs; for example, when giving birth I separated my pelvis, which is excruciatingly painful, and I refused any kind of narcotic until they offered me something that could be administered IV (which I have no issues with at all) rather then IM. It's awful.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I’m really surprised to read this many people have such an aversion to needles. If it will help put it in perspective, being admitted to the hospital for Covid will result in far more needle sticks than the one or two required for the vaccine. Get the vaccine.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

There is a special form of therapy for phobias called exposure therapy. A crippling phobia of needles can be life-threatening if it gets in the way of you obtaining necessary medical treatment. I strongly recommend seeing a psychologist to treat this.

I hated needles when I was growing up. I made myself go donate plasma for a year, 2-3 times a week, to get myself over the fear. I'm glad I did. I had to give DH shots once a weeks, during his dialysis days, for medication he had to have.

DH doesn't like them either, but he got over it. He had to; he gives himself injections for diabetes now (last 4 years)....and when he was doing dialysis, he had to insert 2 15 gauge needles for each treatment.

 

[mom2rb]

I am terrified of needles. I know that I have to get vaccinated. I don’t know why they have to show so many needles and people getting shots on the news all of the time. That is NOT helping.

 

[Aladora]

I was never a fan of needles but ever since I had cancer which meant chemo and multiple surgeries. Ever since then I have had a big problem with needles, especially since I can only have blood drawn or vaccines in my left arm and that one has bad veins due to chemo damage.

Having said all of that, you can bet I will be running to get an appointment as soon as I can!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Good point, some people are very upset by the whole thing.

I am not a fan of needles but when I meet the person I tell them off the bat, please don't show me the needle.
I sit, I look at the container and all and they generally announce it when they are going to bring the needle close because they don't want to deal with me fainting or anything anymore that I want to deal with the fear, I close my eyes, they do their thing - the end.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I know I'd rather have a vaccine shot then an intubation tube down my throat, thats for sure.

 

[cobright]

According to the CDC for an intramuscular injection, for adults, the needle should be 1- 1/2 inches long. that's pretty long, in my books.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/downloads/vaccine-administration-needle-length.pdf

Up to 200 pounds, most adults are served just fine with a 1" needle thought it really depends on how lean the person is. My parents got it with a 1", not that you'll feel a difference with that extra half inch. the needle is very fine (between .8 and .5mm)

What makes this shot a walk in the park is the consistency of the injection and the volume of vaccine being injected. It's thin like water and there's only 0.3ml of the stuff. Pain at a shot is caused, primarily and initially by the displacement the needle causes at injection and then by the displacement caused by the injected material. The volume of that injected fluid, being many many times that of the needle itself, is responsible for the lion's share of injection discomfort. For comparison most vaccines we get as babies and children are 0.5 to 1.0ml, the Covid vaccine is a much smaller shot.

 

[cobright]

I've never known a competent adult that couldn't think past what ever aversion they have for the sake of their health.

Oh ho ... I've met at least a half dozen people who legit will not date people of certain horoscope signs. A fear of injections is not the most irrational thing on common display within the human condition. Don't get me wrong, it is irrational; but to never have met someone who might decide a trip to Cairo isn't worth it if it means getting a yellow fever shot?

Ever since then I have had a big problem with needles, especially since I can only have blood drawn or vaccines in my left arm and that one has bad veins due to chemo damage.

On the plus side, they don't need to hunt for a vein for this shot.

 

[JimMIA]

It's just a shot, folks!

People I have talked to who have had either Pfizer or Moderna have reported only a sore arm the first day. With mine (Pfizer), I didn't even know I'd had a shot the second day.

Nobody I know wakes up in the morning saying, "You know, what I'd REALLY like to do today is get a shot!"

But it's only a shot.

 

[buzzrelly]

I hate hypodermic needles. A Lot. I'm a news junkie, but lately I have to set my browser to NOT open images while reading the news online, lest I get an unwelcome eyeful of an injection photograph, or worse, VIDEO.

I can handle blood draws if the person is skilled, but with me you only get one chance: I'm a Karen about it and call ahead to make an appointment with the most experienced phlebotomist on staff. Intramuscular injections are much worse, and I have mostly chosen to go without when possible, even occasionally forgoing my very favorite thing in the world (travel) in order to avoid them. (My kids are fully vaccinated, but I was never with them at the time; those appointments were Dad's job.)

I very much wish I could dodge the COVID vaccine, but I know my employer will insist, so I'm stuck (if you'll pardon the pun.) That got me thinking about how many people might be clinging to "vaccine caution" not so much because they are worried about the vaccine having side effects, but because they REALLY don't want to deal with injection itself, let alone two of them. Naturally, very few adults are going to openly admit that that is their real reason.

So, what do you think? What percentage of this widespread "vaccine caution" that we are seeing is really caused by fear of needles? I'm guessing that with the possible exception of the healthcare professions, it is probably at least half.

I hate needles and getting shots, but I’m way more afraid of getting intubated. It kind of freaks me out and was the one thing I was dreading when I had surgery a couple years ago. So getting the shot to prevent me from getting a breathing tube put in is a no brainer for me.

 

[lisaviolet]

Hope you're able to push through and get it. If it is seeing a needle during an appointment, does it not help to turn your eyes the opposite way? I guess you have probably have tried that many times, eh?

I self-inject with the same needle - intramuscular - multiple times a week. I can't imagine if I had a phobia.

If there is a sting it is usually caused by not allowing the alcohol swab to dry on your skin. So if it is a sting that brings on the phobia maybe ask them to wait a minute after wiping your arm.

I don't switch needles from drawing out to injecting because I can't afford it. I don't know what they are doing with the vaccine, balancing cost, safety and supplies with multi-use vials. If it is only one used, ask them for a needle switch. That makes a tremendous difference. Using one on a vial blunts the needle. And a bit of vaccine on the top of the needle causes more of a sting. So voila - a needle switch-off looks after both issues.

You need one of those nurses who tricks people while talking, and just injects.

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Your question -

No, I don't think a needle phobia will stop a lot of people.

There are more needles for Covid care in hospital.

 

[goofyernmost]

I hated needles when I was growing up. I made myself go donate plasma for a year, 2-3 times a week, to get myself over the fear. I'm glad I did. I had to give DH shots once a weeks, during his dialysis days, for medication he had to have.

DH doesn't like them either, but he got over it. He had to; he gives himself injections for diabetes now (last 4 years)....and when he was doing dialysis, he had to insert 2 15 gauge needles for each treatment.

Don't want to question your story, but you can't give plasma (blood) 2 or 3 times a week. There is usually a required 4 to 6 weeks between donations. Take to much out to often it ceases to be a problem, permanently.