Dr. Meghan McMurtry, a professor in the Department of Psychology, spoke to the Toronto Star about needle phobia and its role in preventing some from receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

The articles noted that people with needle phobia and other forms of medical anxiety likely make up a significant portion of the 20 per cent of Ontarians who have not yet been vaccinated.

People with high levels of needle fear need evidence-based interventions, including therapy, McMurtry commented, and that help needs to long before they arrive at vaccine clinics.

A clinical and health psychologist with the Pediatric Chronic Pain Program at McMaster Children’s Hospital, McMurtry is also an associate scientist at the Children’s Health Research Institute.