Like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard. Feeling lightheaded if you stand up too fast. Having "lizard brain" take over, triggering almost overwhelming fight-or-flight instincts. That's how Eryn O'Neil of St. Paul describes the acute discomfort that has accompanied her lifelong fear of needles. Nevertheless, the 36-year-old software engineer and mother of a toddler isn't backing away from the COVID-19 vaccine. The greater good of ending the pandemic is far more important, she said, than the temporary but very real distress that comes with the shot.
"I'm getting it. There's no question whatsoever," O'Neil said, even as she recounted past coping strategies — among them, bringing an understanding friend willing to endure a crushing handhold during an injection.
As the campaign to vaccinate the nation continues, its success hinges in part on overcoming a fear that O'Neil shares with many others — needle phobia. The official term for extreme fear is "trypanophobia." The feelings it triggers can range from procrastination to panic over everyday medical procedures such as immunizations or getting an IV.
This is a public health problem even when there's not a pandemic. "Avoidance of influenza vaccination because of needle fear occurred in 16% of adult patients, 27% of hospital employees, 18% of workers at long-term care facilities, and 8% of healthcare workers at hospitals," concluded a 2018 article in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Overcoming this common reason for vaccine hesitancy is especially critical in the battle to control COVID-19. Vaccinating virtually everyone as quickly as possible is the key to stopping the virus from circulating and mutating into more dangerous strains. Needlephobes can't sit this out, which is why the Star Tribune Editorial Board has chosen to address this issue in its ongoing "Our Best Shot" series.
Talking about our fears and knowing that others are battling them, too, can be helpful. To those who find shots scary, you have a lot of company. Twin Cities teacher Mark Westpfahl recently shared his needle fears in a video posted on Twitter. Accompanying Westpfahl to his appointment: Walnut, a stuffed toy bear brought for moral support.
Shannon Watson of St. Paul has an intense, lifelong fear of finger pricks and vaccinations. She delayed getting a booster shot required to attend graduate school until the last possible moment. But when a COVID vaccine appointment recently became available in Brainerd, she drove there, bravely stood in line even as she worried she might faint, then marveled at how quickly the appointment was over. She got a little "woozy" when she took off the small bandage later but was glad to do her part to conquer COVID.
As a veteran medical provider and president of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Andrew Slattengren has cared for many patients with needle phobia. He advises those with concerns to share their fear with their doctors or whoever is administering the shot. Fearful patients will get help, not comments to toughen up. "This shouldn't be something people feel embarrassed about," said Slattengren, who also shared his expertise in video accompanying this editorial (also available at https://bit.ly/3a10bWy).
