the cosmolinguist (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cosmolinguist) wrote2020-12-15 05:50 pm
cosmolinguist) wrote2020-12-15 05:50 pm
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[350/366] vaccine stock photos
A couple of weeks ago, when the first vaccine was licensed for use here, a lot of my friends were happy and excited about this news. I was too! But they did something I didn't do: they shared news articles about this on social media.
I didn't do this because I rarely see a single one that isn't illustrated with a close-up photo of a needle. Often right near someone's arm, in an action shot (ha, pun not intended). But it's not much better if it's just the syringe on its own. The rare exception to this kind of image is something like a vial of the medicine on its own, which it turns out still isn't much better for a needlephobe like me.
I felt a little queasy just after a few minutes of looking at Facebook that morning.
So I'm really glad to see that this is part of a problem that's starting to be explicitly addressed.
I know this isn't the most important problem anyone is facing right now. But I must say that looking at the photo accompanying this did make me feel better, calmer, more positive than any other photo I've seen next to talk of vaccines lately.
And while there was never any question about me getting the vaccine -- I cannot wait! which feels really weird for something I know I'm going to struggle with so much! -- I've been really dreading the experience already. Sure it hasn't been the biggest cause of my anxiety lately, but I'm surprised how noticeable it can be, like it was the other morning. These things can actually make a difference.
Representation is always important, both in accurately including the variety of people doing something, especially something so crucial to public health, but representation is also important in accurately portraying what the things we do in the world are like themselves.
I didn't do this because I rarely see a single one that isn't illustrated with a close-up photo of a needle. Often right near someone's arm, in an action shot (ha, pun not intended). But it's not much better if it's just the syringe on its own. The rare exception to this kind of image is something like a vial of the medicine on its own, which it turns out still isn't much better for a needlephobe like me.
I felt a little queasy just after a few minutes of looking at Facebook that morning.
So I'm really glad to see that this is part of a problem that's starting to be explicitly addressed.
The stock photography commonly used in stories about vaccines are often medically inaccurate in a range of ways, from showing the wrong syringes to showing shots being administered incorrectly. In addition to that, you typically see a lot of crying babies, anxious-looking patients, and close-up shots of oversized needles. While it’s no secret that getting a shot isn’t usually a fun experience, imagery that’s frightening and inaccurate only further perpetuates the idea that vaccines are just scary, painful, and something both parents and their children dread. And look, there might be some truth to that—lots of people dislike needles. But it’s also true that vaccines save lives.To my shame, I hadn't even noticed the wider points -- I think I notice the race of people in stock photos, but none of the other matters being addressed here had ever occurred to me. And it's especially important, especially in places like the U.S. that already have an embedded anti-vaxx ideology underneath the covid-specific animosity, that articles particularly about the benefit and importance of this vaccine portray it as the enormous positive it is, and not legitimize the fear and stress some people are already having about a covid vaccine that will change all of our lives when enough people get it.
I know this isn't the most important problem anyone is facing right now. But I must say that looking at the photo accompanying this did make me feel better, calmer, more positive than any other photo I've seen next to talk of vaccines lately.
And while there was never any question about me getting the vaccine -- I cannot wait! which feels really weird for something I know I'm going to struggle with so much! -- I've been really dreading the experience already. Sure it hasn't been the biggest cause of my anxiety lately, but I'm surprised how noticeable it can be, like it was the other morning. These things can actually make a difference.
Representation is always important, both in accurately including the variety of people doing something, especially something so crucial to public health, but representation is also important in accurately portraying what the things we do in the world are like themselves.
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I'd go with you and do whatever it might be that helps you through it, if I was able.
Falcon is also needlephobic. It took til he was nearly full grown (6'3") before he could manage vaccines without him asking me to physically help restrain him.
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Aw, thank you. I do benefit a lot from someone going with me and that's one thing I'm dreading about this: if my job as a carer does actually entitle me to an earlier vaccine (which technically it should but it might not for Reasons), I might be getting it sooner than the few people I'd want to bring along with to get them to chat to me to distract me / maybe let me squeeze their hand to get some of the anxiety out.
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I have found that I don't particularly like watching the thing happen, and I have learned how to keep up a running conversation banter with the person administering such that I have something for my brain to do rather than tense up in anticipation. It works spectacularly with the flu shot, and it worked well when I was still eligible to donate blood, so I'm hoping it will also work for the COVID shot. In the several months hence when I will be eligible to get it, of course.
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