While based on international data, the below article by The Conversation remains relevant to local readers. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout has placed the issue of vaccination firmly in the spotlight. A successful rollout will depend on a variety of factors, one of which is vaccine acceptance. One potential hurdle to vaccine acceptance is needle fear. In a study that surveyed parents and children in Canada, 24% of parents and 63% of children reported a fear of needles. About one in 12 children and adults alike said they didn’t get all the vaccinations they needed because of their phobia. Needle phobia generally begins from around age five, and can last through to adulthood. It can be a barrier to health-care access and treatment.