In order to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, TV nightly news programs usually show someone getting a bloody shot in the arm. That’s supposed to help, but it makes everything worse if you have needle phobia. Consequently, after seeing such a scene, a person who has a deathly fear of needles will probably be less apt to get the Covid-19 vaccine. TV news causes anti-vax needle phobia.
Did you ever see anyone with a full blown case of needle phobia? I did. The person had scratched his eye and had to have some type of shot in the ER. I don’t remember if it was an antibiotic or tetanus shot. All I know that that when he stood up, he turned quite pale, and then fainted. The nurses caught him before he hit the floor. That person was my future husband. An otherwise robust, healthy individual who held an executive position and maintained his own home
It seems that about 10% of the population is afflicted with this phobia, otherwise known as trypanophobia.
Trypanophobia is the extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or needles. It tends to be more common in children and may lessen as people grow older and gain more experience having medical procedures and injections involving needles. For some people, however, this fear can remain extreme and upsetting during adulthood.
In my husband’s case, he subsequently developed several medical problems that required injections. After awhile, he outgrew the phobia. And he was first in line the day seniors in our area were offered Covid-19 vaccinations.
Most people don’t have needle phobia, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy getting a shot. I still have to grit my teeth and close my eyes while getting my annual flu shot. Some nurses are better than others when administering injections. Often, you might only feel the tiniest pin prick. Other times, someone jabs you so hard with a needle that it vibrates through your entire system. Yikes.
Consequently , I believe the news media is taking the wrong approach by focusing on a long sharp needle as it punctures upper arm flesh. . Why not depict a person sitting down and calmly extending their arm, while exchanging smiles with a friendly nurse. Then fast forward to someone enjoying a picnic in the park, and saying , “I’m so glad I got vaccinated. It gives me peace of mind knowing that my loved ones won’t catch it from me.”
With so many people still resisting the Covid vaccine, a softer approach might be worth a try. TV news hours showing needle injections cause anti vax needle phobia in vulnerable people.