![Don’t Get Stuck by a Fear of Needles](/sites/default/files/styles/400_x_202/public/2023-07/N22888_1200x628_Tips%20for%20Better%20Shot%20Experiences%20-%20Blog.jpg?h=2240b8e9&itok=59P6LOiD)
Few people enjoy getting shots or having blood drawn. But for some, a fear of needles stands in the way of lifesaving care, such as COVID-19 vaccines or insulin for diabetes.
Needle aversion is common, affecting two in three children and one in four adults. “These feelings can range from mild discomfort to a full-blown phobia, called trypanophobia,” says psychiatrist Elizabeth Mutter, DO, with LVPG Adult and Pediatric Psychiatry.