ShotBlocker Device Eases Infant Vaccination Pain
A systematic review and meta-analysis finds the C-shaped plastic device lowers pain scores in infants receiving vaccines.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Children’s Health
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A systematic review and meta-analysis published online October 24, 2026, in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care assessed the ShotBlocker device for reducing pain during infant vaccination. Infants who received the device before vaccination showed lower pain scores than those who did not.
Why it matters
Vaccination pain can make routine immunization harder for infants and caregivers, so a low-cost, non-drug option could improve the experience. The authors rated the evidence as low-certainty, which limits how strongly the findings can be applied.
The meta-analysis pooled five randomized controlled trials covering 378 infants, with a pain score difference of SMD -1.49 (P = .018) compared with control, and a pulse rate reduction of 5.90 beats/min in 160 infants. Heterogeneity across trials was high (I² = 91.6%), and the authors rated both findings as low-certainty evidence, with blinding difficulties not yet resolved.
The players
Journal of Pediatric Health Care
A peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on the health of children and adolescents.
The details
The ShotBlocker is a C-shaped plastic device with blunt projections around a central opening, applied immediately before the vaccine is given. Four of the included trials were conducted in Turkey and one in Iran, assessing use with measles-mumps-rubella, pneumococcal conjugate, or hepatitis B vaccines.
Timeline
2017: Earliest included trial published.
2026: Most recent included trials published.
October 24, 2026: Study published online in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
Health Landscape
Infant vaccination pain has been addressed with non-pharmacologic approaches such as sucrose solutions and skin-to-skin contact, and this review extends that search to a mechanical device. The evidence base remains small, with the included trials concentrated in Turkey and Iran and rated low-certainty by the authors.
Caregivers may ask whether a device like ShotBlocker can be used alongside routine infant immunizations to reduce discomfort. The current evidence is limited to a small number of low-certainty trials, so it does not yet establish a standard of care.
The takeaway
Caregivers seeking to ease infant vaccination discomfort should discuss available options with their pediatrician. Non-drug approaches like the ShotBlocker device remain under evaluation, and more rigorous trials are needed.
Further reading
Explore more on Children’s Health for context on pediatric care and treatment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Medscape.
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