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Arguments reflecting extreme fear of injections or hypodermic needles
There are usually two types of vaccination fears, which tend to be much greater than the actual risks involved. Both types of fear have been shown to influence vaccine hesitancy.
1) Fears related to suffering side effects (whether plausible or not). For example:
These fears can stem from or be magnified if individuals perceive vaccines to have toxic ingredients. Some commonly mentioned ones are:
2) Fear of the vaccination procedure itself, such as fear of needles.
Trypanophobia means “fear of needles”, but this theme also encompasses the overwhelming fear of pain and other medical procedures in the vaccination process.
Fear of needles is common. About one in ten people report this as a reason not to have a vaccination. This fear is understandable and there is no reason to be ashamed of it. This anxiety often comes from a previous bad experience. Exploring why some people are fearful of needles can help healthcare professionals understand how best to support them through the fear.
Dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals is most productive if it is guided by empathy, and an opportunity for the patient to affirm the reasons underlying their attitudes and to express understanding for that. That’s why it is important to understand the attitude roots behind people’s overt opinions. To affirm a person’s underlying attitude root does not mean we need to agree with the specifics of their argument. For example, we can acknowledge that:
Fear of needles is common. About one in ten people report this as a reason not to have a vaccination. This fear is understandable and there is no reason to be ashamed of it. This anxiety often comes from a previous bad experience. Exploring why some people are fearful of needles can help healthcare professionals understand how best to support them through the fear.
A fear of needles need not hold us back from protecting ourselves from viruses and diseases. We can work with our healthcare professionals to get support in making the vaccination experience as comfortable as possible and work through the fears.
At some point in our lives, it is likely we will need other life-saving medical treatments as well that need to be delivered through injections. So it is worth facing our fears so that we do not limit our own life choices.
Additional information:
Academic references:
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