Hugging grannies soothe meningococcal jab fears

Coming to a school near you: granny cuddlers armed with a stack of warm hugs.

Red Cross volunteers, or granny cuddlers, have been dishing out a bucket load of cuddles to Northland primary school children as they get their first meningococcal B jabs.

Northland Health vaccinators moved into schools last week to deliver the meningococcal B vaccine. They have been accompanied by Red Cross volunteers on hand to deliver the comfort of a gentle cuddle and to wipe away any tears.

Maureen Moseley, Whangarei's Red Cross service centre manager, said the organisation had been approached at the start of the campaign to assist the programme.

"They asked if Red Cross could provide volunteers who would be able to cuddle a kiddie or allay their fears if they were a bit afraid of getting an injection," Ms Moseley said.

"We call them granny cuddlers and poppa cuddlers. They've had children and grandchildren and the little kids just respond to them."

The granny huggers are only visiting primary schools on the basis that secondary school students would probably not respond to the concept.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)