Why Does Television News’ Focus on Needles Make Me Cringe?

Repetition: Does it desensitize or traumatize?

Since December 2020 when the first Covid vaccines were available, we have been subjected to an endless parade of news reports regarding the availability and need for these vaccines.

As new groups became eligible for these vaccines, the frequency of the news reports increased and then decreased.

As a new wave of Covid infections arrived, the frequency of the news reports increased and decreased.

None of that is remarkable.

I accept that informing us of the progress of Covid infections and vaccination programs is a legitimate role for the news media and that we are not compelled to absorb this or any other news.

My gripe is with the television news networks that subject viewers to endless footage of people being vaccinated to accompany these reports. Add to that the continuous replays of the news items throughout any program and it borders on mental torture for anyone who is not a fan of injections.

We all know

• what a hypodermic needle looks like.
• that it is filled from a little vial of liquid.
• that the needle is poked into the recipient’s arm and that the plunger is pressed to eject the liquid.

None of this is “news”. It doesn’t even qualify as information!

Let me be clear — I am not an anti-VAXer nor am I Tryponaphobic (that’s an intense fear of needles to save you from reaching for a thesaurus). I have had four Covid injections so far and have lined up for my flu needles at the appropriate times.

And, for the record, I have not had Covid or the flu (so far — jinx) although I have been in very close contact with infected people on at least three occasions.

That said, I do not regard having a needle as a highlight of my day even though (fingers crossed) I do not have adverse reactions to the injections. I’m disregarding the slightly sore arm I suffer (in silence if you can believe that) for the next 24 hours.

I would much rather swallow a tablet or utilize an absorbent patch to achieve the same goal, but that option is not available.

My concern is for those who are less inclined to undertake vaccinations. If these news reports make my skin creep, I can only imagine what a disincentive they would be for more reluctant recipients and their children.

An article on the Harvard Medical School website stated that up to 25% of the population suffers from an intense fear of needles. Being confronted every 30 minutes by the same injection images on replay must be traumatic for these members of the population.

Another study showed that (understandably) a majority of children had a fear of needles. As you would expect, the percentage of those identifying as “fearful” decreased with age.

If the aim is to encourage the population to protect themselves against severe illness from Covid or flu, I would expect that the news reports highlighting “endless” footage of people being vaccinated would have a negative impact.

Surely focusing on the possible outcomes for people who are not vaccinated would be a more motivating message than trying to glorify those “getting the jab”. The increasing rates of hospitalizations and deaths as well as the emerging problems from long-Covid need to be emphasized more strongly.

While it may not be as successful at grabbing viewers’ attention, less violence in the news would be a welcome change.

Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any research to definitively prove or disprove my personal thesis. But, given the reported reluctance of the general population to participate in third and fourth doses, it may be a useful change of tactics for the television news empires and our health authorities to explore.

I realize the television networks would have to rebuild their library of stock footage to implement this so maybe it is a step too far!

So, what do you think? Do you cringe at the sight of others receiving a vaccination? Or am I the only one with the urge to switch off?

And yes, the irony of the image I selected for this post was deliberate.