As the world stares down another seasonal “tripledemic,” health experts are calling on everyone — that is, everyone who’s eligible — to get vaccinated for influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus.
The problem is, a fear of needles keeps many people — even doctors and other health care workers — away from getting vaccinated and accessing essential health services.
About 27% of hospital employees, 18% of workers at long-term care facilities and 8% of health care workers at hospitals avoid vaccines because of the fear of needles, according to a 2018 study.
“It doesn’t surprise me that it impacts everyone,” Dr. Thea Gallagher, clinical psychologist and associate professor at NYU Langone Health, told The Post.
“It just goes to show that anxiety and phobias can impact everyone,” Gallagher added.
Indeed, among the general public, about one in every four adults and two of every three children have a fear of needles, whether the needle in question is being used to draw blood, deliver a vaccine or perform another health procedure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And about 16% of people who refuse to get essential vaccinations do so because of needle fear.
Needle phobia — known as trypanophobia — is especially disturbing when it occurs among the health care professionals delivering the shots.
About one of every four adults — and roughly two of every three children — have a fear of needles. Getty Images
A 2023 survey revealed that 31% of medical students experience trypanophobia. And some appear to feel shame about their phobia, as over 56% in the same survey said medical students should not be seen as evincing a fear of needles.
That, too, comes as no surprise to Gallagher: “When you have a phobia, it’s hard to do the things that your values are aligned with,” she said. “It might be extra embarrassing for health care providers.”
In severe cases of needle panic, even the sight of a vaccine needle can cause a crippling panic attack, nausea, vomiting or fainting.
The issue of needle phobia hasn’t been well studied, but it seems to be related to a negative personal history with needles, or other concerns like hypochondria or anxiety disorders. It can also run in families, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Additionally, it may be related to the basic animal instinct to object to having a sharp object jabbed into one’s flesh. “There’s probably some evolutionary biology that plays into this,” said Gallagher, noting that our “lizard brain” may be activated at the thought of a needle.
Fear of needles is especially strong among children. Getty Images
Parents trying to convince a child to sit still for a needle injection are familiar with the problem: “Kids have a pretty strong disgust response,” she said. “And the more we explain, the more activated they get.”
And few health care workers have the time in busy clinical settings to thoroughly address patients’ fear of needles — but there are ways for adults as well as children to handle the situation.
With children who are anxious about a shot, health care professionals can “associate it with something positive” like getting some ice cream afterward, Gallagher suggests, adding that talking at length about why needles are helpful and safe isn’t nearly as helpful: “Less talking, more doing,” she advises.
There are also pain relief sprays and numbing ointments that can take the sting away from a needle jab.
For adults, “I really encourage people to take a support person,” Gallagher said. And if “the setting can be overwhelming or overstimulating” for some patients, vaccinations at home or in a car at a drive-through clinic may be an option.
“You might need to get a professional involved if it’s starting to impact your everyday health,” Gallagher explained, noting that treatments for needle fear are often successful.
“Fear is really powerful,” she said, but added that the discomfort and anxiety of a needle jab goes away quickly. “All problems are perishable.”
‘Needle phobia’ could accelerate next pandemic – here’s how to overcome it: NYU expert
