2.5 year old gets very distressed at doctors - nasal flu vaccine!

[TeaPlzx]

Hi All,

Not too sure what I'm hoping for here, maybe just some words of support from anyone who has been through similar?
I've not long got home from taking my 2.5 year old son to the doctors to see a nurse for the nasal flu vaccine...long story short, we didn't manage to get it.

My son started sobbing with genuine fear once we were in the nurses office. The nurse suggested I bribe him, but videos on my phone, snacks, etc. didn't work. When he's genuinely scared, there's just no distracting him.
The nurse told me how the little girl who'd just been in before (I saw her, looked a little older, maybe 3/3.5 years) jumped on the nurses lap and was more than happy to have the vaccine. Telling a clearly stressed out Mum this, while she's holding her distressed son, just seemed more than unhelpful 😅

Anyway, in the end we left, because DS was just too worked up. As we got in the car he said "no like doctor, make sad". It's heartbreaking, but I also feel like a failiure that I've not managed to get my son the vaccine!

I guess I'm hoping another parent may say their child has reacted the same way? They've also been unable to get the vaccine? I'm not a total failiure and completely alone in this situation? 😭
Plus...any suggestions on how I could help ease my sons anxiety and upset around the doctors, would be great. Or do others think it's just something that will eventually pass?

Thanks in advance,

I'm autistic myself and have 2 autistic children.
You can ask to be referred to the disability nurses to get vaccines done if your child is having such extreme reactions. They can organise play therapists to help distract and use other methods so the child doesn't realise they are being vaccinated.
Measles is doing the rounds again and it's extremely dangerous.

I wasn't being sanctimonious but my autistic 4 year old does have to be restrained as he has to have regular blood tests. He is massive and strong. As horrible as the blood test is, I'd prefer that than him have serious health issues he needs to be in hospital more with.

There is a difference between being held for urgent medical tests and being held for vaccines. In hospital we had staff who were used to working with children, there was more of us and we were trained how to hold for bloods, cannulas,LP etc these things had to be done.

in clinic there is one nurse who does the vaccine and the onus is on the parent to hold their child. Which they may not have done before and find upsetting if they are throwing a wobbler. There is no one else to come and hold the child. Some parents just can’t no matter how many times you show them how.
many of the nurses I work with aren’t paeds nurses so have little experience with kids which doesn’t help, they don’t enjoy the 2-5 clinics - I do however I’ve 18 years as a paeds nurse behind me so nasal vaccines are pretty straightforward compared to my ward experiences.

I don’t think it’s fair to pile on a parent who took her child to be vaccinated and struggled and is asking for help and support with how to get him to take it.