How to take the fear out of vaccines

When the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s Discovery Pharmacy ran pop-up flu vaccine clinics this fall, a few things were different from a typical pop-up. For example, patients had more privacy, sat in seperate before and after waiting areas, could listen to calming music, and selected their own coping strategies from a checklist beforehand. All this was because they were test-driving the CARD (Comfort Ask Relax Distract) system—which is now a standard part of training for students in the program. Anna Taddio, a professor in the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, developed the evidence-based framework. It’s meant to reduce the stress around vaccination, which can lead to people avoiding vaccines. A guide for how all community pharmacies can use CARD was recently published in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal. As pharmacists become one of the main vaccine administrators in Canada, it’s becoming more important that they minimize fears around people getting their shots. Read: Playing your CARDs right to help patients get over fear of vaccination needles Needle fears are common: a 2012 study by Taddio found that 63% of children and 24% of adults were scared of needles, and that contributed to vaccination noncompliance in 8% of children and 7% of adults. The pharmacy guide highlights the system and includes information for pharmacists on how to implement CARD, such as training staff and setting up documents; how it aligns with the overall goals of pharmacies; how to track its progress; and how to budget for it. Advice is given on how to change the waiting area, injection area and aftercare to support patients, as well as client coping checklists, which help them decide how to feel comfortable and what to say to people who are stressed. Read: Risky business: Pharmacist diverted flu vaccines to her husband's pharmacy CARD includes allowing patients to pick how to make themselves comfortable, such as having a snack beforehand or bringing a comfort item. It also encourages patients to ask questions, such as if they can have a numbing cream, bring a friend, know precisely what will happen or lie down. In the third step, people be more relaxed by using positive self-talk, having privacy, or taking deep breaths. Finally, they can distract themselves, choosing from talking to someone, watching a video on their phones, or thinking of something else. A previous study looked at the impact of CARD on five independent pharmacies and included 152 children who participated, about half of whom used CARD. It found that it reduced the amount of fear they felt and led to a better experience overall. Another study on people 12 years old and older found that CARD reduced needle pain by 75%, fear by 40%, and dizziness by 44%. It also found that staffers liked the system. Read: What to tell patients about egg allergies and flu shots

How to take the fear out of vaccines

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