As more children become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, some may experience needle or vaccination anxiety. That’s why a computing and financial management student at the University of Waterloo developed an interactive game that helps make vaccinations less stressful for children by managing their fear and pain.
Developed during the student’s co-op term at Immunize Canada, and in association with the University of Toronto, the game, called CARD™ (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract), applies an evidence-based framework that teaches children how to prepare for vaccination. The game achieves this through a virtual deck of cards with different tips and questions related to each letter of the game. The CARD™ website also features mini games that are designed to be fun, distracting and calming to motivate children to complete all educational lessons on the cards.
By providing children with coping methods, CARD™ helps create positive vaccination experiences, as well as anxiety management tools they can apply to situations in their everyday lives.
For more information, visit the University of Waterloo.