Transcript
ReachMD Announcer:
You’re listening to ReachMD. This medical industry feature, titled “Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy: Persuasive Conversation Strategies and Tips,” is paid for and brought to you by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. This program is intended for health care professionals in the United States, its territories, and Puerto Rico.
Mother Voiceover:
“I’ve heard conflicting information about vaccines, and I don’t know what to believe.”
Narrator Voiceover:
Sound familiar?
Vaccine hesitancy continues to be an issue in the communities we serve.1 Between online reports and misinformation from friends and family, it’s not surprising that some patients may feel hesitant about vaccines.2,3 Here’s how you could respond to this.
HCP Voiceover:
“I understand that you just want to make the best decision for your child. It can be hard when you’re unsure which information is true.”
Mother Voiceover:
“Well, my best friend read something on social media and now she doesn’t want to vaccinate her family.”
HCP Voiceover:
“It’s good that you have someone you trust who can share their personal choices like that. I hope you can also trust me to help with your vaccination decision. Vaccinations are an important part of your child’s health.4 So important that I make sure that my family and I receive our recommended vaccines.”
Narrator Voiceover:
Here are more tips and sample dialogues to help you address other vaccine-hesitancy concerns.
Begin your conversations by opening with a statement rather than a question. This approach has led to more parents accepting vaccinations for their children.2,5,6 For example, “Your child needs three shots today.”
Next, use reflective listening. As the parent responds, try to interpret their answer, and ask them if you’ve understood them correctly.7
Look to create a comfortable environment where parents may be more open to change. Invite them to join the conversation and validate their good intentions to do what’s best for their child.7
Then, ask if it’s okay for you to talk about vaccines, provide facts they may want to know, and how they feel about the information.8
HCP Voiceover:
“Is it okay if we talk about vaccines?”
Narrator Voiceover:
Here are more questions you may hear from patients, along with ways to respond to them.
Mother Voiceover:
“How do I know this vaccine is safe?”
HCP Voiceover:
“Vaccines go through a strict approval process. For instance, just to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, vaccines are rigorously researched and tested.9 Even after approval, vaccines continue to be monitored for any potential safety and efficacy concerns.9 With each vaccine there are potential benefits and side effects. I have a Vaccine Information Sheet for you, so let’s talk about it."10
Narrator Voiceover:
Here’s a sample scenario for discussing the value of vaccination schedules.
Mother Voiceover:
“I’d like to delay my child’s vaccinations. Can we save this for her next appointment?”
HCP Voiceover:
“I’m hearing that you’d like an alternative vaccination schedule. Could you help me understand why?”
Mother Voiceover:
“It just seems like a lot all at once, and I’m not sure if it’s safe.”
HCP Voiceover:
“The CDC-recommended vaccination schedule is designed to help protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases before they are exposed to them.11 It’s based on many factors, including how your child’s immune system responds to vaccines at various ages, and how likely your child is to be exposed to a particular disease.11 Delaying vaccines could leave your child vulnerable to disease and may lead to serious complications.11 I feel confident in this schedule, which is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and approved by the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians."12
Narrator Voiceover:
This is a fact-based response to a question about side effects.
Mother Voiceover:
“I’m not sure I want my child to get those shots. I’m a little concerned about the side effects.”
HCP Voiceover:
“That’s understandable. Can you tell me what concerns you the most?”
Mother Voiceover:
“Well, I’ve heard they can be dangerous.”
HCP Voiceover:
“I know you hear lots of stuff on social media.2,10 Let’s look at what we know about this vaccine. I have a Vaccine Information Sheet for you - let’s look at the facts and what you should be considering.”2,10
Mother Voiceover:
“I’m still not sure.”
HCP Voiceover:
“Okay. I’ll give you some information to read and we can reschedule a visit in 2 to 3 days to discuss any questions or concerns you might still have. Does that sound good?”
Narrator Voiceover:
These tips and sample dialogues can help you foster greater confidence in recommended vaccinations among your patients. Many parents consider health care providers to be the most trusted source of information.2 With your help, parents can become confident in their decision to help protect themselves and their children against certain vaccine-preventable diseases.
For more sample dialogues, and other information on addressing vaccine hesitancy, visit www.merckvaccines.com
ReachMD Announcer:
This program was brought to you by Merck. If you missed any part of this discussion, visit Industry Features on ReachMD.com, where you can Be Part of the Knowledge.
References:
- Kempe A, Saville AW, Albertin C, et al. Parental hesitancy about routine childhood and influenza vaccinations: a national survey. Pediatrics. 2020;146(1):e20193852. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3852
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Talking with parents about vaccines for infants. Reviewed April 11, 2018. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/ talking-with-parents.html
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Why immunize your child. Reviewed April 1, 2021. Accessed July 15, 2024. https:// www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/ immunizations/Pages/Why-Immunize-Your-Child.aspx
- US Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccine basics. Reviewed November 9, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2024. https:// www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/index.html
- Opel DJ, Heritage J, Taylor JA, et al. The architecture of provider-parent vaccine discussions at health supervision visits. Pediatrics. 2013;132(6):1037-1046. doi:10.1542/ peds.2013-2037
- Brewer NT, Chapman GB, Rothman AJ, et al. Increasing vaccination: putting psychological science into action. Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2017;18(3):149-207. doi:10.1177/1529100618760521
- Miller WR, Rollnick S. Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change and Grow. 4th ed. The Guilford Press; 2023.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Communication strategies: motivational interviewing. Reviewed July 9, 2021. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/healthy-active-living- for-families/communicating-with-families/motivational- interviewing/
- Food and Drug Administration. Vaccine development – 101. Reviewed December 14, 2020, Accessed July 15, 2024. https:// www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/development-approval- process-cber/vaccine-development-101
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About VISs. Published August 2, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/about-vis/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reasons to follow CDC’s recommended immunization schedule. Published August 9, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-children/schedules/reasons-to-follow.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended child and adolescent schedule for ages 18 or younger, United States, 2024. Updated June 27, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf
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