CARD

What is CARD™?

CARD™ (C - Comfort, A - Ask, R - Relax, D - Distract) is an evidence-based framework that teaches how to prepare for vaccination.

What are the benefits of CARD™?

  • It reduces stress-related reactions, including fear, pain, dizziness and fainting during vaccination.
  • It improves the vaccination experience for people receiving a vaccine and for those who support them, such as educators, parents and health care providers.
  • It teaches lifelong coping skills that can be used for other stressful situations.

 

Immunize Canada, the University of Toronto (HELPinKids&Adults), and SickKids (AboutKidsHealth) have created resources to inform and equip educators, parents, and health care providers with evidence-based tools they can use to help people have a better vaccination experience at school or in a clinical setting.

For healthcare professionals and school staff

How can you, as a healthcare professional, help?

  • Collaborate with all vaccination partners, such as school staff, parents and caregivers.
  • Reinforce learning and practice.
  • Remind people of vaccination day.
  • Support people’s choices for coping during vaccination.
  • Praise and celebrate people for actively participating in their health care.

 

For more information, visit www.cardsystem.ca.

 

Use CARD to improve your vaccination experience: QR code

Use CARD to improve your vaccination experience: QR code

Vaccination clinic signage (6-page PDF)

Vaccination clinic signage

Improving the vaccination experience: What health-care providers can say

Improving the vaccination experience: What health-care providers can say

 

Planning checklist for health-care providers: Improving the vaccination experience

Improving the vaccination experience: Planning checklist for health-care providers

A guide for health-care providers, with vaccination-day checklist: Improving the vaccination experience

Improving the vaccination experience: A guide for health-care providers, with vaccination-day checklist

Needle-related fainting: Why does it happen? What to do about it?

Needle-related fainting: Why does it happen? What to do about it?

Reducing pain with numbing cream for vaccination

Reducing pain with numbing cream for vaccination

Comfort positions: Improving the vaccination experience

Comfort positions: Improving the vaccination experience

 

Improving the vaccination experience: A guide for school staff

Improving the vaccination experience: A guide for school staff

Improving the vaccination experience: Checklist for teachers

Improving the vaccination experience: Checklist for teachers

 

For parents and caregivers

Use CARD to improve your vaccination experience: QR code

Use CARD to improve your vaccination experience: QR code

Improving the vaccination experience: What parents and caregivers can say

Improving the vaccination experience: What parents and caregivers can say

Improving the vaccination experience: What parents and caregivers can do

Improving the vaccination experience: What parents and caregivers can do

Improving the vaccination experience: How parents and caregivers can act

Improving the vaccination experience: How parents and caregivers can act

CARD System handout for school-aged children: Coping with pain and fear around vaccination

CARD System handout for school-aged children: Coping with pain and fear around vaccination

CARD System activity for school-aged children: Coping with pain and fear around vaccination

CARD System activity for school-aged children: Coping with pain and fear around vaccination

A guide for parents and caregivers: Improving the vaccination experience

Improving the vaccination experience; A guide for parents and caregivers

Reducing pain with numbing cream for vaccination

Reducing pain with numbing cream for vaccination

Comfort positions: Improving the vaccination experience

Comfort positions: Improving the vaccination experience

Needle-related fainting: Why does it happen? How to prevent it?

Needle-related fainting: Why does it happen? How to prevent it?

 

 

C is for Comfort

Preparing for your vaccination - C is for Comfort.

A is for Ask

Preparing for your vaccination - A is for Ask.

R is for Relax

Preparing for your vaccination - R is for Relax

D is for Distraction

Preparing for your vaccination - D is for Distraction.

Nervous about getting needles?

CARD for teens - handout

The CARD System for coping with fears and anxiety

CARD for Individuals

The CARD System for a better vaccination experience: C is for Comfort

The CARD System for a better vaccination experience: A is for Ask

The CARD System for a better vaccination experience: R is for Relax

The CARD System for a better vaccination experience: D is for Distract

HELPinKids&Adults – CARDTM. Preparing children for school vaccinations: A parent’s guide.

The CARDTM System: Coping with fear and anxiety (for parents and caregivers)

 

Video | School vaccinations: What you need to know about vaccines at school

Video | School vaccinations: The CARD System: Play your power CARD

 

Parent video – School vaccinations: Improving the vaccination experience at school

Last Updated: 27 November 2023