Transcript
Announcer:
This is VacciNation on ReachMD. On this episode, we’ll learn how we can take a shared decision-making approach to meningitis B vaccination with Dr. William Schaffner. He’s a Professor of Preventative Medicine and Health Policy as well as a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. Let’s hear from Dr. Schaffner now.
Dr. Schaffner:
Shared clinical decision-making means exactly what it says. We have a conversation with the parent and with the adolescent so that they come to an understanding about what the risk of the disease is, how devastating a meningococcal infection can be, and that there is an available vaccine that can prevent a meningococcal group B, for example, disease.
And as we have these conversations, the parents and the adolescents not only become more aware of the risk of the infection, but through the conversations, I would hope that we can make them feel comfortable and reassured that this is an important preventive measure for adolescents before they go off to college.
I think the way I and many of my colleagues present information about the prevention of illness is gradually, openly, freely, and ready to listen to questions that the adolescent and the parents have. And then we’re willing to discuss this repeatedly over a period of time to the point so that the adolescent and the parents become comfortable in receiving the vaccine. This may take a little bit of time, but it's time very well spent, because most of the time, it results in the adolescent and the parents accepting the vaccine.
I think we ourselves need to be comfortable with the notion that although meningococcal disease is rare, it is a devastating illness. Meningitis, sepsis, I mean… These illnesses, if not diagnosed early, can result in the death of young people. And often, if they recover, they have disabilities—very substantial disabilities. So albeit rare, these are diseases well worth preventing. And if we become comfortable with that notion, I think it makes it easier for us to talk about the importance of prevention before going off to college.
Announcer:
You just heard Dr. William Schaffner’s insights on taking a shared decision-making approach to meningitis B vaccination. To access this and other episodes in our series, visit VacciNation on ReachMD.com, where you can Be Part of the Knowledge. Thanks for listening!
