Reducing pain during vaccine injections: clinical practice guideline

Pain from vaccine injections is common, and concerns about pain contribute to vaccine hesitancy across the lifespan. Non-compliance with vaccination compromises the individual and community benefits of immunization by contributing to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Individuals may also engage in broader noncompliant behaviours if they acquire a fear of needles as a result of negative vaccination experiences. There are many evidence-based treatments to mitigate pain at the time of vaccination; however, most are not routinely used. The current guideline expands on and updates the 2010 guideline with recommendations across the lifespan. This enhanced scope led to a revised team name of HELPinKids&Adults. The intended audience is all health care providers who administer vaccine injections.