Needle phobia - supporting a young person with autism having an injection

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear that you and your 14 year old are going through this, you have my sympathy - I remember the struggles we had (and my daughter really tried, with different approaches and many failed attempts - I'd say over 8+ attempts spread across several years - before we managed to get her through an injection successfully).  She is now 17 and since January 2021 she has managed to have 3 x injections (both covid jabs and the booster) and two lots of bloods drawn.  I can't tell you the relief I felt, she thought she'd never be able to do this - I hope her story gives you and your child hope - they can get there in the end, it just takes time and the right conditions.  So, what did we do to help her finally get through the experience:

1. We spoke to the vaccination centre ahead of the appointment and asked if we could go up to show her where she'd be having the injection - they were very accommodating and she met the nurses, etc.  We had already put on the Emla cream (numbing cream, available from Boots without prescription) - having asked them to draw a mark on her arm where they would be doing the injection (for covid we were told that it has to be in the upper deltoid muscle), to ensure we were numbing the correct area.  We did it on both arms, so she had two options for the site of the injection.

2.  She decided that instead of using the approach her CBT counsellor had suggested (and which we had repeatedly tried without success - which involved quite a run-up: going over her printed out 'plan' with the person administering the injection, checking the dates on the vaccines and hearing from the nurse exactly what they contained and how they worked, etc) she said that at the time of the appointment she wanted to just go in, sit down, and 'get it over and done with as quickly as possible' - but only when she gave the nurse the go-ahead (no surprises).

3.  She arrived, sat down, did the paperwork checks and rolled up her sleeve, let them apply the antiseptic wipe, etc.  They got the needle ready, and asked her to tell them when she was ready to go.  Normally at this point (on seeing the needle ready) she'd squirm and get quite upset, but this time she asked me to hold her close to me and talk with her about something completely unrelated (we talked about the walk we were going to take a friend's dog on later that day - which route and the kind of things he'd be interested in doing/ sniffing, etc, should we take the ball, which treats would he like, etc - little details and questions to focus on seemed to help).  She didn't want a count down (which we had tried without success in the past), she just said 'ok, do it now' and she stayed perfectly still.  She said to me afterwards that she was telling herself the whole time to not move 'imagine you're made of concrete' (because she knew from previous attempts they wouldn't attempt the injection if she was squirming).  Even at her age, the prospect of a sticker to say she'd been vaccinated was also a motivator!  Afterwards she said she didn't think she'd be able to do it again - but we kept reminding her that having done it once she would be fine, and how brave she'd been and how quickly it was over.  

At the first successful attempt she had to have bloods drawn they offered her the option of having the needle go into a vein on the back of her hand - which she took, and that seemed to be easier for her than the arm - she held her hand out and again asked me to hold her close and talk about something to engage and distract her whilst they did it.

You and your child will find something that works for them, it may just take time and different approaches.  I wish you both the best of luck - hang in there. Xx

Hi

I am going through a similar thing with my 14 year old. Any advice?

They want to be vaccinated. But not via injection.

Third attempt today.  They freeze up and can't communicate.  

Apparently they'd happily be injected if they were sedated or unconscious (obvs not an option). Pain not the ssue.