Explaining a Vaccination to Your Child
A vaccine is a medicine that protects your body from viruses that can make you feel sick. A vaccination is the shot of the vaccine you get into your body.
Steps to getting a vaccination
- A nurse will clean your skin with an alcohol wipe. It is a small cloth and feels cold and wet on your skin.
- Then, the nurse will do a small poke with a needle to put the vaccine in your body. This only takes a few seconds.
- Next, the nurse will slide the needle out and throw it away.
- Then the nurse will put an adhesive bandage on you where they gave you your vaccination and you are all done.
Making needle procedures more comfortable
Before your child’s vaccination, learn about our Comfort Promise and our commitment to making your child's experience as comfortable as possible.
Resources
Vaccine Visual Schedules
Some children do best when they can track each step of the vaccine process. A visual schedule is a way to mark off what they have finished and see what is left to do. Below are two visual schedules that can be used for getting a vaccine. You can add other steps as needed for your child, like using a numbing cream or sitting on your lap.
Vaccine Visual Schedule (PDF)
Vaccine Visual Schedule - Includes Cold Spray (PDF)
Hope for Henry
Hope for Henry is a program that will help your family prepare for vaccinations. You will be able to find age appropriate information and utilize tools to improve your child's experience with vaccinations.