How to talk to your children about vaccines

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These questions are not always easy to answer, especially if you have questions about vaccines yourself, and there is often misinformation circulating in our communities. But being upfront and honest with children about vaccines in an age appropriate way is important and can help relieve everyone’s anxiety. 

Here are our top tips and some answers to your little one’s most frequently asked questions. 
 

1. Educate yourself so you can put your kids at ease 

 
You’re already on your way there by reading this page but this parenting masterclass video from our vaccine expert and pediatric nurse, Dr Shannon McDonald, is a great way to start. It lays out information about vaccines in kid friendly language and is full of helpful hints which make taking your little one for their shots as stress free as possible. 
 

2. It is never too early to start talking about vaccines  

It may sound silly but talking to your children about the process of vaccination from their very first shots (yes on day one when they get their first Hep B shot), can help you and them feel more comfortable and less anxious as they get older. It might not help them on day one but it will certainly make a parent feel better about causing their newborn that small but sharp pain. 

Once the child is a little older, we like to start by praising the body’s incredible immune system which protects a child from harmful bacteria and viruses saying something like “the body is  very smart and strong. Once it meets a bug, it learns how to beat it and remembers how to stop that bug making us sick next time”.  

It can also be helpful to relate vaccines to medicines a child is familiar with by saying something like “vaccines are like medicine that stops us getting us sick in the first place.” 
 

3. Acknowledge the pain but put it into context and focus on the positives!

When talking to children about vaccinations, we need to be honest about the pain. You can say something like “the needle will hurt but it will only hurt like a sharp scratch and will only last for a second”. Depending on the age of the child, it can be useful to discuss the illnesses the vaccines protect against, and how lucky they are to be protected from them. 

Reassure them that they are incredibly brave and depending on the age of your child you could liken getting a vaccine to having a superhero shield against disease.  

The parents in our team have found that phrases like “now you’ve got a special shield against disease!” or “Aren’t you lucky that you got your vaccines so now you won’t get sick with the flu?!” The goal is that they understand that getting a vaccine is much better than getting the disease, even if it does hurt, or even make them cry for a few seconds. 

For children who are extremely sensitive to pain, there are creams and patches available to numb the skin before a shot. These can be obtained from your GP after a quick consultation. 
 

4. Be honest about what they can expect

If your child will soon be due for their shots, make sure that they know it is coming before the arrive at the clinic or doctor’s surgery. It doesn‘t have to happen too far ahead of time but there should not be any surprises when it comes to getting vaccines. Pretending that you’re heading out to visit grandma when you’re really taking your child to the doctor for shots can create last minute panic and anxiety. 

If you’re honest, even if they’re scared about it, at least they will know what to expect and will hopefully realise that it wasn’t so bad afterwards. 

Parents in our team find that giving children something to look forward to after the jab can help. Bribery is absolutely okay when it comes to encouraging children to have their vaccines. There's nothing like an ice cream or a play in the park to turn a bad day around!
 

5. Listen and respond to their questions!

It’s very important children have a right to truthful information about what’s going on in the world, but adults also have a responsibility to keep them safe from distress. Use age-appropriate language, watch their reactions, and be sensitive to their level of anxiety. 

If you can’t answer their questions, don’t guess. We’ve answered some of the common questions asked by children below but if their question is not answered here and you don’t know the answer, use it as an opportunity to explore the science together.  Our website, as well as that of the World Health Organization are great sources of information.  

Explain that you’ll take their question away and find out the answer from the experts. Encourage them to keep coming to you with their questions and that you’ll always be there to help them with anything they’re worried about.