Therapy Animals Assist Kids Overcoming Fear of COVID Vaccination

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With children as young as five now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, therapy animals are stepping in to help ease their anxieties about needles. The FDA and CDC have approved Pfizer shots for this age group, but many children are hesitant not due to misinformation, but because needles can be quite intimidating. To address this, healthcare facilities nationwide are introducing therapy animals to provide comfort and distraction during vaccinations.

In various hospitals and clinics, specially trained therapy dogs and sometimes other animals are present to help kids feel more at ease. Micaela Turner, a volunteer coordinator at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, shared with Today that “the presence of therapy dogs serves as the perfect distraction.” One young patient, a 7-year-old named Max, found solace in a therapy dog named Daisy while receiving his COVID vaccine. “It was actually kind of fun getting the shot. I got to pet Daisy,” Max said.

Max’s mother, Claire Turner, who oversees operations at the hospital, emphasized the importance of therapy dogs in encouraging children to get vaccinated. These therapy dogs not only provide comfort but also create a more relaxed atmosphere, alleviating the build-up of fear associated with vaccinations. “The waiting room felt much friendlier. Kids were able to focus on the dogs instead of dreading the shot,” Claire noted.

This initiative isn’t confined to New York. Programs featuring therapy animals are gaining traction in cities like Washington D.C., Texas, Colorado, and San Diego, where therapy dog Leo recently gained attention for his role in calming anxious children during their vaccinations. Another young patient, 9-year-old Lily, shared her experience, stating, “Seeing the dog helped me feel better. I didn’t know what to expect with the vaccine.”

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