How to talk to someone who doesn’t want the COVID-19 vaccine



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Illustration from the article titled How to Talk to Someone Who Doesn't Want the COVID-19 Vaccine

Photo: Drazen zigic (Shutterstock)

As COVID-19 vaccines move from hypothetical to real, Pfizer seeks emergency use clearance from the Food & Drug Administration which could see the first Americans get vaccinated against the disease as early as December, the discussion around taken a vaccine becomes more personal.

Beyond the usual suspects – die-hard anti-vaxxers and COVID-19 denier– are family and friends who are weary, if not suspicious, of the whole pandemic. They may not want to suffer by scheduling a series of plans for their entire household, assuming “everyone” will do it, and that will be good enough. Or maybe they don’t trust the record speed at which vaccines have been developed and tested. Again, as pointed out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to end the pandemic and get our lives back to something close to normal, vaccination is important.

So how should we talk to our loved ones who may be considering not getting the vaccine at all? Here is some information and tools to help you start the conversation.

Acknowledge their reasons for hesitation

Before you confront this person with a flood of connections, think about what might cross their mind about taking a COVID vaccine.

Some may operate on the basis of misunderstanding, rumors, or false information – or maybe they just don’t know what vaccination really involves or how critical it is. Some may think that the vaccine given is a prototype and that it has not been properly tested. But while the process has been speeded up, no steps have been skipped, according to Ruth Karron, MD, a vaccine expert who has worked with the CDC and the FDA, in an interview published by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The vaccines have undergone testing for months and current data indicates several of them are very effective. Any vaccine approved for administration to the public is the first FDA approved and appropriately tested for general use.

Let that hesitant friend or family member know that the vaccine they will receive will not be part of a first wave trial and that extensive human trials will already be completed by the time they receive them- even the vaccine. But be clear about the possible side effects: CNBC spoke with trial participants who reported side effects such as severe headaches and exhaustion throughout the day. Recognize that they may experience minor side effects, of course, but that is better than the severity of the COVID-19 contraction.

Addressing the History of Immunizations in Marginalized Communities

Many Blacks, Indigenous People and People of Color (BIPOCs) have been the victims of experimental vaccines and targets of cruelty in the U.S. For example, from the 1930s onwards, black men were at the center of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which was carried out without their formal consent. For 40 years, participants were denied knowledge of their diagnosis while undergoing medical tests without proper information and were denied proper treatment and access to penicillin once it became available.

The history of people of color and medical malpractice has created mistrust of the medical infrastructure in the United States, often leading to apprehension or skepticism from medical and vaccine professionals. A survey by The Undefeated and the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 27% of black Americans said they “definitely wouldn’t take” the vaccine, and 22% said they “probably won’t.” Recognize this part of the story and offer your confidence in the advances since then.

Discuss what it would take for our country and our economy to recover from the pandemic: Collective immunity is necessary for people to return to work, for children to return to school, and for life to return closer to normal. Maybe refer them to accessible information you could watch together, like the special documentary Coronavirus explained, which explains why at least 75% of a population should be vaccinated to stop the spread and start eradicating the virus.

Give personal accounts

Currently there are over 12 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States, but personal experience often trumps large and unattainable numbers. A 2015 study led by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) worked with a group of individuals who were against vaccinations and found that individuals had changed their minds after seeing real accounts of children with measles . Share personal stories that you have heard or experienced. Itemize any interactions you have had with the virus or refer to a real account that might resonate with them on a personal level.

Remind them of the vaccinations they already have

The majority of people today have not experienced a pandemic before this one, the previous one being over 100 years ago. The reason we are not yet seeing widespread mumps, rubella or polio is that enough of the population has received the appropriate vaccinations. (For example, as the World Health Organization explains: “The immunity of herds against measles requires the vaccination of approximately 95% of the population. The remaining 5% will be protected by the fact that measles does not spread among those vaccinated. “)

People may not realize that the only way to eradicate COVID-19, like previous pandemics, is to be vaccinated against the virus. It can be a difficult conversation, but recognizing their resistance, sharing your trust, and emphasizing the role of vaccines in past pandemics can give them the tools they need to make a more informed and informed decision about COVID-19 vaccination.

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