<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/vac-admin.html">According to the CDC</a>, about one in four adults has a fear of needles. Many of those people say the phobia started when they were kids. For some people, the fear of needles is strong enough that they avoid getting important treatments, vaccines or tests. That poses a serious problem for public health. Researchers have helped develop a five step plan to help prevent what they call "needless pain" for kids getting injections or their blood drawn. Guest host <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/349305392/tom-dreisbach">Tom Dreisbach</a> talks with <a href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/providers/dr-stefan-friedrichsdorf">Dr. Stefan Friedrichsdorf</a> of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, who works with a team to implement the plan at his own hospital. Friedrichsdorf told us some of the most important research on eliminating pain has come from researchers in Canada. Learn more about their work <a href="https://helpkidspain.ca/">here</a>. This episode was inspired by the reporting of our colleague April Dembosky, a journalist at member station KQED and KFF Health News. Read her digital story <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/02/13/1230448059/shots-needles-phobia-vaccines-pain-fear-kids">here</a>. Got another question for a doctor? Email us at <a href="mailto:shortwave@npr.org">shortwave@npr.org</a>. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Shots Are Scary. But They Don't Have To Be.

Short Wave