Updated guideline provides advice for reducing pain, fear during vaccination

This led to the creation of the 5Ps—process, procedural, physical, pharmacologic, and psychological—as the architecture for the guidance. 

The advice includes: 

• Process: Teaching everyone involved in the vaccination process, including those who administer the vaccines and those who receive them, about tailoring interventions to  reduce stress to each patient.  
• Procedural: Using less invasive or faster techniques such as rapid injections to reduce the fear and pain associated with immunization. 
• Physical: Offering breastfeeding or pacifiers to infants prior to vaccination to provide extra comfort. Giving oral immunizations, when available, also makes immunization less stressful. 
• Pharmacologic: Providing topical pain medication for all patients makes vaccines less painful. 
• Psychological: Using toys, singing, music, games, phones, toys, or other methods to distract children receiving a vaccine helps with relaxation.  

The authors encourage clinicians and patients to consider the methods that might work best prior to and during immunization.

“The guideline provides new research-based tools and practical strategies to help health system leaders, health care providers, people receiving vaccines, and those supporting them improve the vaccination experience,” said Taddio. “The goal is to make vaccination a more positive experience, reduce fear, and help people feel more comfortable getting vaccines in the future.”