What to Expect
Feeling a little nervous? That’s completely normal. Here’s everything you need to know to feel ready.
Whether your vaccination is happening in school or at a clinic, you’re in safe and experienced hands. Thousands of young people across the South West have their vaccinations with us every year — and most of them say it was much easier than they expected.
Are vaccines safe?
Yes — and that’s not just something we’re saying to make you feel better. It’s backed up by decades of science.
Every vaccine used in the UK goes through rigorous independent testing and approval before it’s ever offered to anyone. The MHRA (the UK’s medicines regulator) carefully reviews the safety, quality, and effectiveness of every vaccine — and continues to monitor them long after they’re in use.
All vaccines approved for use in the UK undergo a rigorous assessment of their safety, quality and efficacy, and once approved, are continuously monitored through robust surveillance systems and real-world data. The vaccines you’re offered as part of the school programme have been given to millions of young people, and the evidence supporting their safety is very strong.
Side effects do happen — a sore arm, or feeling a bit tired for a day or two — but serious reactions are extremely rare. The protection vaccines give you against diseases like meningitis, HPV, flu, and others is genuinely important for your long-term health.
What will happen on the day?
Before you go in
You’ll usually wait with your classmates or in a waiting area. It’s normal to feel a bit anxious at this point — but know that the nursing team is friendly, experienced, and used to supporting young people who feel nervous. You won’t be rushed.
Meeting the team
Before anything happens, a nurse will check a few details with you and ask if you have any questions. This is your chance to say if you’re worried or have had a bad experience with needles before. Please do tell us — knowing this helps us look after you better.
The vaccination itself
Most vaccinations are given in the upper arm and take just a few seconds. The moment itself is usually much briefer than people expect. Some people feel a short sharp scratch; others barely notice it.
After your vaccination
You’ll be asked to sit and rest for a few minutes afterwards — this is completely normal and just gives us a chance to make sure you feel well before you head off. There’s no rush.
How we help you feel comfortable
Our immunisation nursing teams are trained to support young people who feel anxious, and there are several things we have in place to help:
Stress balls — Squeezing something in your other hand during the vaccination is a genuinely effective distraction and gives you something to focus on.
A calm, unhurried approach — We’ll always explain what we’re about to do before we do it. No surprises. You’re in control of the pace.
Lying down if you’d prefer — If you’d feel more comfortable lying down rather than sitting, just ask. Some people feel more stable that way, and it can help if you feel lightheaded.
A recovery area — After your vaccination you’ll rest in a comfortable space before heading back. If you feel unwell at any point, a member of the team will be with you.
Someone you trust — If your vaccination is at a clinic rather than school, you’re welcome to have a parent, carer, or trusted adult with you throughout.
No judgement — It’s okay to be nervous. It’s okay to feel emotional. Our team has supported lots of young people through exactly this, and we’ll never make you feel embarrassed for finding it hard.
Things you can do yourself
There’s quite a lot you can do to make the experience easier — both beforehand and on the day.
Talk about how you feel. Tell a parent, friend, or member of the nursing team that you’re nervous. Keeping it to yourself often makes anxiety worse. Saying it out loud takes away some of its power.
Find out what to expect. Reading this page is already a great start. Knowing what’s going to happen step-by-step — rather than imagining a vague, scary unknown — makes a real difference.
Try a breathing technique. Slow, steady breathing genuinely calms your nervous system. Try breathing in for four counts, holding for four, and breathing out for four. Practise this before the day so it feels natural when you need it.
Use distraction. Bring headphones and your favourite music or a podcast. Scroll through your phone while you wait. Focus on something in the room. Research shows that distraction techniques can help reduce anxiety and make the vaccination less painful. When it’s time for the needle, you can look away and keep your focus elsewhere.
Relax your arm. A tensed-up muscle makes any injection more uncomfortable. Take a breath, let your shoulders drop, and try to keep your arm as loose as possible. It really does help.
Plan something nice for afterwards. Having something to look forward to — even something small — gives your brain a positive thing to focus on. A treat, a trip somewhere, or just getting home and relaxing. You earned it.
Let yourself feel proud. Getting vaccinated takes courage, especially if you find needles difficult. Recognising that — and giving yourself credit — is worth doing.
What if I’m really scared of needles?
Needle anxiety is more common than you might think — you’re definitely not alone. Some studies suggest that up to around two thirds of children will fear needles at some point, and a sizeable minority of teens still struggle with it.
If your fear feels overwhelming — if you’ve been dreading this for weeks, or you’re worried you won’t be able to cope on the day — please reach out to us before your appointment. We can talk through your concerns, take things at your pace, and put a plan in place that works for you. No-one should feel like they have to white-knuckle their way through it alone.
You can also speak to your school nurse or GP if you feel you’d benefit from more support.
Any questions?
If there’s anything on your mind that we haven’t covered here, our team is happy to help. You can also visit our FAQ page for more information about individual vaccines.
The SAIS team delivers vaccinations to school-aged children and young people across the South West. We’re part of the NHS, and your health and wellbeing — physical and emotional — is always our priority.