Having vaccine tomorrow and I am scared

[WhyDoesItAlwaysRainMe]

I have a needle phobia and I am so worried. I'm anxious about reacting to it or becoming ill. I know I need this vaccine but please can someone talk me through it you wouldn't think I was 39 years old, I feel like a little kid.

Do you have any major allergies? If not, it’s very very very unlikely you’ll have a severe reaction.

Needle wise- never look, whilst they are preparing it look away.

Can you wear headphones and listen to nice music?

Good luck. I’m jealous and would love the jab!

My DD has a severe needle phobia but a few years ago had to have a lot of jabs for a trip to Asia. She did it, because the alternative was not going to Asia. You can do it too!!

A few tips - don't look down at the needle, focus on breathing slowly and steadily and think about relaxing all the muscles in your body, including your tummy.

Tell them you're nervous. They may be able to use a paediatric needle which is smaller. It will be done before you know it.

Think about how you'll feel afterwards - glad you had it and relieved it's done.

You're doing a great thing!!

Don't look

Good luck honey

when they usually say

ok sharp scratch - I swallow, never usually feel a thing

they'll make you sit and wait afterwards for 20 minutes and off you go

Thank you so much for replies. I know it doesn't hurt but I just can't reason with myself. That's a brilliant idea about headphones - I will take mine. I really do just have to keep telling myself why I'm having it. Your replies really do help

@heLacksnotluster

How did you manage to get it at 39? I can’t wait. Not frontline or a carer and under 50 so I can only imagine it will be ages for me

I work for the NHS and, although not frontline, I see patients for appointments face to face. I feel very lucky to have been offered it.

Heard someone saying on the radio this week that the needle is thinner than a human hair and lots of people don't even feel it.

I had mine today. Totally fine, barely felt it. Slightly sore arm. Only other side effect is that my phone has 5G now

Never look at the tray or the needle.

Chat to the person or music is a good idea tell them why you're doing it obv!

Good luck it will be fine

Try to focus on the positive - in just a couple of weeks you are massively protected from this virus. Helping to protect your family and colleagues etc. Maybe say this as a little mantra in your head. Look the opposite way from the needle the hole time. You can also play a game in your head once you’re sat down and confirmed your name etc that can help you be distracted. Go through the alphabet and for each letter think of an animal/ someone you know/ film title/what ever you like. Actually Say it in you head- A antelope, B- buffalo etc. I’m a nurse and give injections all the time and can tell you the actual jab takes seconds- not even a minute. Good luck! I have mine next Thursday!

I had it today. I barely realised they have done it. Definitely the least painful vaccination I have had but ill he honest and my arm is abit sore and heavy now which they said was normal. Good Luck xx

I dont like needles but wanted to have it as this is the way out of this. It was a sharp scratch but not too bad. I had a very sore arm next day and was super tired but fine day after that. You can do it!

Close your eyes, turn your head to the side, take a nice big breath and DONE! Don’t look at the needle, don’t think about it. Close your eyes and think about something you find relaxing, floating along in a pool in the sun, lying on the beach with a cocktail, sitting in a meadow feeling the warm sun on your skin...that kind of thing.
As for any reaction etc I’d say the risk is teeny tiny so tiny it’s not worth thinking about. You can do this

I have developed a “stance” for bloods and jabs which involves looking very forcefully in the other direction. Explain straight away that you have a phobia and won’t be looking and then engage the vaccinator shamelessly in inane conversation. Just babble about whatever you fancy talking about. Almost all the time I find I can’t even tell when they are done - they have to stop me talking to let me know

I had my first one today. It’s honestly one of the best vaccines I’ve ever had. Barely noticed the nurse had done it! My understanding is as a pp said reactions tend to be people who have had previous severe reactions and they are more cautious with those people. Everyone else I was in with seemed fine.

I used to be really nervous before needles too. A fab nurse told me to not look and concentrate on wriggling my toes. It’s a good distraction and it’s quite hard to tense your body and wriggle your toes at the same time. Combined with some slow breaths it really helps.

nobody likes them ( Do they?) l look away....my mum has had both of hers..just a slight sore arm. you are helping to eradicate this awful disease. ...amazing!

I like the idea of headphones and music. Let the nurse know you are nervous. Good luck sure all will be fine

Do tell them as soon as you get there, then do what you’ve got to do - headphones / chat / look the other way. Thank you for getting it done even though it’s more difficult for you than most.

I was the same!!! Huge needle phobia. I’ve had biopsies so convinced myself it wouldn’t be as bad as that.

You know what? Genuinely all I felt was a TINY scratch. No sensation of the “injecting” part (nothing like the stingy local anaesthetic).

The needle is FAR narrower than the ones they use for blood samples, so the skin prick isn’t anywhere NEAR as bad.

The bad news: you might be in a queue for a while. But once your turn is up, the vaccinator (?) will ask some questions, make sure you want to go ahead, but then be very quick with the needle part. Honestly,

I didn’t think I’d had it because it was so quick and so painless (has happened to me before: apparently “went a bad colour so I didn’t inject”).

I had it on Wednesday and hardly felt it. Good luck OP!

I had it yesterday myself and i hate needles and never get the flu jab because of it even though i should as i have asthma.

When i was offered the covid vaccine as i work in social care I decided to brave it. Honestly i barely felt a thing and it was over in seconds!

i have had a bit of a sore arm today but nothing else.

Just look away while they do it which is what i always do when having bloods done etc..

I used to hate needles and be so terrified before injections.

What do you consider to be a treat? For me it was a massive gooey chocolate brownie with two scoops of chocolatey ice cream (my GP was near a Baskin and Robbin).
When I needed an injection, I would promise myself that treat right after... (it 100% doesn't "count" for diets, veganuary etc).

Decide what you want, and promise yourself that reward for being brave!

Could be fish and chips for tea, or a nice glass of something, or even a new bag or perfume. Whatever you consider sufficient reward for yout bravery!

Look away and make some small talk maybe to distract yourself