Australian researchers are trying to take the sting out of vaccinations ahead of the expected mass global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

The scientists from north Queensland’s James Cook University have tested the efficacy of cooling agents on vaccination pain in 13 trials involving 700 children and 800 adults.

They found ‘cold sprays’, known as vapocoolants, or ice delivered onto the skin just before needle insertion reduced vaccination-related pain in all adult studies and six paediatric trials.

Lead researcher Professor Clare Heal, of the university’s college of medicine and dentistry, said pain reduction rose as skin temperature approached 0ºC.