{"id":66346,"date":"2022-01-03T16:09:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-03T20:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/id-kayla.cms-devl.bu.edu\/wheelock\/?post_type=bu-article&p=66346"},"modified":"2023-09-13T14:19:59","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T18:19:59","slug":"tips-from-child-life-helping-children-receive-the-covid-19-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/id-kayla.cms-devl.bu.edu\/wheelock\/news\/articles\/2022\/tips-from-child-life-helping-children-receive-the-covid-19-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips from Child Life: Helping Children Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTips from Child Life: Helping Children Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n
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January 3, 2022<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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A blog post by Elizabeth Gallagher<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that the Omicron variant has arrived and COVID-19 cases are again on the rise, many parents and caregivers are eager for their children to be vaccinated. Although having children vaccinated is an important step, many children are afraid of getting the shot. As a student in the Child Life program at BU Wheelock, I was fortunate to have interned at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital Primary Care Center, where I helped children receive vaccinations. Through this experience, I learned several techniques to help parents and caregivers cope with their children\u2019s anxiety about receiving the vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important things parents and caregivers can do is to be honest. If your child is old enough, tell them that they are going to receive a vaccine and what it is for. Many children are anxious about COVID-19 and may be relieved to know the vaccine will help protect them. If your child asks whether the vaccine will hurt, tell them it may feel like a pinch or poke, but it will be over quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once at the doctor\u2019s office or clinic, there are several things parents and caregivers can do to help their children through the vaccination process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n