Short Wave How To Talk About The COVID-19 Vaccine With People Who Are Hesitant
Jan 6, 2022
Dr. Jasmine Marcelin, an infectious disease specialist from Nebraska, shares her in-depth experiences in addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. She discusses effective communication tactics that foster personalized dialogues, tackling misinformation head-on. Highlighting a poignant interaction at a vaccine clinic, she illustrates how building trust can change minds. Dr. Marcelin emphasizes the power of empathy and active listening in these conversations, encouraging community engagement to promote healthier public health outcomes.
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Clinic Conversation
- Dr. Marcelin recounts a clinic encounter where a parent, initially hesitant, got vaccinated after a conversation.
- The parent's concerns ranged from vaccine efficacy to the "mark of the beast" conspiracy.
Starting the Conversation
- Start by asking about their general thoughts on COVID-19 to gauge their perception of its severity.
- Gently probe into their reasons for hesitancy, asking "what's stopping you the most?" and follow up with "what else?"
Managing Expectations
- Don't expect to resolve everything in one discussion; focus on planting seeds of thought.
- A successful conversation is marked by the other person saying something like, "Huh, I didn't think about it like that."