Healthcare

CUF Pilots Underwater VR Experiences for Children During Vaccination

CUF and Oceanário de Lisboa bring immersive aquarium scenes to children aged 5–12 during vaccination at two Portuguese hospitals.

Added on October 4, 2026

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A child uses a virtual reality headset for CUF and Oceanário de Lisboa's immersive journey into the marine world during clinical care.

CUF is piloting an immersive virtual reality experience with Oceanário de Lisboa to help children feel calmer during clinical care. Wearing a VR headset, children take a 360-degree journey inside the Oceanário’s aquariums, with the aim of easing pain and anxiety.

The first phase targets children aged 5–12 during vaccination at Hospital CUF Cascais and Hospital CUF Descobertas. CUF’s June 2025 announcement described plans to extend the pilot to more hospitals in its network and a wider range of clinical procedures.

A study based on direct observation is planned to measure the technology’s effect on children’s pain, stress and resistance to clinical procedures. The announcement presents these as goals for evaluation; it does not report measured results from the pilot.

Quotes

“Based on direct observation, a study will be developed with the aim of measuring the impact of this technology on reducing children's pain, stress and resistance to clinical procedures”
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“This project shows how nature — even at a distance — can care. Bringing the sea to children at a vulnerable moment creates an instant of peace, learning and dreaming, where there was previously worry”
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“with this distinctive project that evokes the magical world of the seabed — so present in the imagination of little ones — we want to make the hospital environment more welcoming for children. This is a major concern we have at CUF”
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“There is evidence that, through immersive experiences such as this, it is possible to improve the management of anxiety and pain at delicate moments, such as vaccination. This makes them more pleasant for the whole family and increases uptake”
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