GREENBORO, N.C. — With North Carolina opening eligibility for vaccines to people 16 and older, hesitation about getting the shot continues to grow.

A nurse for Novant Health is working to cancel out vaccine nerves.

For the past 38 years, Mel McMillan has worked as a registered nurse. In March, she administered the COVID-19 vaccine to Vergie Hart, who was afraid of getting the shot.

"Normally, I say, 'this is going to be a stick, you're going to feel a stick.' I used to say, 'one, two, three,' and out came a song. This is the day, and that song was so special because she was scared. She wanted to do this, so this is the day of rejoicing,” said McMillan.

"She talked me through it, she kind of tricked me though, she said that she was going to count to three, but she sang this really pretty song, and I just lost track of the hurt and before I knew it, she had given me my shot,” Hart says.

McMillan sang the gospel song, “This Is The Day The Lord Has Made” to keep Hart calm while administering the shot.

"It's just a moment, it's just in knowing the patient, knowing what they need, sometimes I sing an old, crazy, happy song, or I do a little dance. It's whatever is needed in the moment. But while I have that person here, it's important for me to recognize what they need, not what I need, but what they need,” McMillan says.