Reduce vaccination pain

Your child will receive up to 15 injectable vaccinations from birth up until age 12!

Learn here all about pain-free vaccination with EMLA patches.

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Topical anaesthetics are widely used in numerous medical and surgical procedures and prior to vaccination to lessen needle pain.  They cause superficial loss of pain sensation after direct application.1

Your child will receive up to 15 injectable vaccinations from birth up until age 12!2

INJECTIONS AND VACCINATION

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According to guidelines, children may need up to 17 vaccines during childhood, of which 15 are injectable!2

Babies from birth are required to tolerate needles as part of their medical care.3 But vaccine injections can cause pain, anxiety and fear in babies, children and their parents.3 This pain can lead to anxiety in the future, needle phobias and avoidance of healthcare.3,4

 

WHAT IS THE MAGNITUDE OF PAIN AND DISTRESS WITH VACCINATION?

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Vaccine injections are considered to be one of the most common sources of pain in childhood.3 They are repeatedly administered to almost all children throughout infancy, childhood and adolescence.3

 

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

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By vaccinating your child, you become part of a global effort to rid the world of the devastating childhood diseases that were so common in our previous generations.2

 

Topical anaesthetics can be used to reduce pain in vaccination injections as a standard measure for children.5

 

This measure aims to prevent children from developing a fear of needles as a result of unmitigated pain during vaccinations.5

WHAT IS THE EMLA PATCH?

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The EMLA patch is a topical anaesthetic patch that can be applied to your baby or child’s skin for 1 hour before vaccination to reduce the pain of needle insertion.6

 

The EMLA patch contains 2 active ingredients that are both local anaesthetics.6 An anaesthetic numbs the skin.

 

Lidocaine and prilocaine when applied to intact skin, provides anaesthesia to the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin.6 They do this by stabilising the nerve activity in the area which produces a local anaesthesia.6

HOW DOES IT WORK?

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The active ingredients released from the patch get absorbed to a depth of 2 mm after 60 minutes of application and 3 mm after 120 minutes.6

WHEN CAN EMLA BE USED?

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When topical anaesthesia is required for minor procedures, such as needle insertion (vaccination) and superficial surgical treatment of skin lesions.6

Please note: That EMLA should not be used with live vaccines. Please discuss treatment options with your health care provider

HOW DO YOU USE IT?

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For minor procedures, for example needle insertion:

 

Apply the patch to the skin area selected with a minimum application time of 1 hour.6

 

After a longer time (more than 5 hours) the anaesthesia decreases.6

 

Note: If an allergic reaction develops, the patch should be immediately removed.6

The EMLA patch is suitable for infants aged 3 months +.6

MAIN BENEFITS:

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EMLA is proven to significantly reduce pain when used as a pre-treatment before routine vaccination in infants and children.7,8

 

EMLA is proven to reduce the duration of crying8,9 and irritability10 after vaccination.

 

EMLA can be used before vaccinations in infants from 3 months of age.6

 

EMLA is available in cream or patch formulation without prescription.6

 

Footnotes:

EPI, expanded immunisation schedule

 

Speak to your nurse or healthcare provider for advice on using pain-relieving aids for your child prior to vaccinations.

 

 




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