Three Tips to Make Getting a Shot Easier for Kids

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #GiveaShot #CollectiveBias

Preparing for the new school year is much more than a new back pack and new pencils. With a first-grader now in the family, we had a long list of needs to get ready for school including making sure we had his required immunization records updated and a copy to complete his registration for his new school. Rather than competing for an appointment at the pediatrician, I wanted something close to home and didn’t require me sitting in the doctor’s office for a while.

Targeting kids ages 7-and up, the Get a Shot. Give a Shot (R), Shot@Life program at Walgreens is designed to make it easy and quick to get kids Back-to-School required immunizations! And best of all, when your child gets their immunizations, Walgreens pays it forward by providing a life-saving vaccine for a child in developing country through the United Nation Foundation’s Shot@Life Campaign.  And you don’t even have to make an appointment to get your vaccinations and most insurances are accepted!

While it’s as easy as dropping by your closest Walgreens to get your immunizations, it’s difficult to comprehend that  1 in 5 children around the globe still lacks access to the lifesaving immunizations.  Since immunizations have become part of the public health recommendations and has shown that in some cases that it has completely eradicating or minimizing  some of the worst health concerns , it’s hard to imagine that a simple pinprick can be the difference between life and death for some many children. Just take a look at the historical rundown of the history of the immunization schedule, including the recommended shots today. (The history of vaccines at historyofvaccines.org is a great resource of seeing how immunizations has impacted us since the 1700s!)

Walgreens may make it easy to get the show,  but there’s still the  issue of not getting the shot to be as traumatic for the kids. So after a nice chat with my local pharmacists at Walgreens and a little of my own experience with shots and kiddos, here’s some helpful tips to make it even easier (or at least happier!)

THREE TIPS TO MAKE GETTING A SHOT EASIER

1. Just Cough

According to a study that appeared in Pediatrics in 2010 on Health.com, that when kids coughed before and after a shot, they experienced less pain.  Making the same action of “blowing out candles” may do the same thing, too!

2. Diversion

I’m the first mom to admit that the iPhone has allowed me to get many things done with my kids when I hand it over. Too bad when I ask them to stop it’s a lot harder to get their attention when they are zoned in. However, when it comes to getting a shot, this is exactly what you want. Turn on their favorite show, app or even run through photos  just long enough to get that shot over with and on without a crying fit.

3. Sugar 

Since the day my son was born he’s undergone more needles than I ever have. Another hiccup was that he wasn’t supposed to get upset or do anything that would get his heart pumping overtime. So the first time the nurse popped up a little sugar water to give to him before a shot “to ease the pain” I was wowed how good it worked! Throughout his childhood, I’ve made sure to have a little “dum-dum” pop to lick right before the shot. It works like a dream and will for you too!

Once the shot is over,  the Walgreens’ pharmacists will provide an update to your own primary care pediatrician! And for moms like me that have a problem maintaining records, Walgreens even has an Online Immunization Record you can update to keep up with all your immunization appointments.

Don’t forget Walgreens is also the place for great deals for back-to-school supplies! Make sure to check out your Walgreens app to check this week’s ad and electronic coupons for all things you need – for you AND them. Supplies aren’t just for the kids; I picked up a few journals for my notes and as always, a new set of Sharpies ($ .49 when my coupon!) I also ordered a notebook with the kids’ photos at the Photo Center.

 GET A SHOT, GIVE A SHOT with WALGREENS

“What Back-to-School tasks do you still have left to complete?”