In an effort to lessen fear and enhance immunization experiences, the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities introduced their sensory-friendly vaccine kits.
For people with disabilities throughout Nevada, a new program from the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED), located in the College of Education & Human Development, and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) says it is revolutionizing vaccination experiences.
By using specific tools and approaches, the Sensory Friendly Vaccine Kit Project seeks to lessen the stress, anxiety, and fear associated with immunizations for both adults and children with special healthcare needs or impairments.
The state's immunization clinics will be able to employ the sensory-friendly vaccine kits.
These kits, which are given for free to immunization providers, include a variety of resources to assist patients in managing the stress that is frequently brought on by medical procedures such as vaccines.
The program is the result of continuous efforts to improve the comfort and accessibility of healthcare settings for people with special needs.
Each of the kits, which cost more than $200, includes a variety of objects designed to reduce anxiety and offer distractions while receiving immunizations.
A weighted blanket, noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and a Buzzy stimulator—a gadget that lessens the sense of pain during injections—are some of the equipment that is supplied.
A book called "Coping Strategies for Kids Workbook," keychain cards with further distraction strategies, and a bottle of sanitizer for cleaning the kit's contents are also included.
To learn more about the program or if any provider would like to receive the kits, go to the NCED website by clicking here.
