Education
How to talk about vaccination
Talking about vaccination can be fraught with emotion. In fact, there is decades of research on the social science of having tricky conversations. In the workshop, “Talking about vaccination”, Romy Blacklaw (IPN, RN) and Jessica Stokes-Parish (PhD, RN) explored practical strategies and advice to have productive conversations about vaccination. Here are their tips:
1. Work out whether it’s worth engaging. Some conversations are not worth engaging in – especially when someone is tied up in rabbit-hole theories or stuck in their beliefs. It’s important to protect your own mental health in this journey.
2. Identify your goal. What are you trying to achieve in the conversation? Be mindful of your expectations, it’s unlikely that you will “win the conversation” first go around but it’s imperative to build rapport if you want to have a chance at making a positive impression and having a positive interaction. Think about whether the purpose is to open dialogue, plant seeds for further conversation or something else.
3. Consider the environment. Where are you? In a busy corridor? On a public social media forum? Think about how your environment can influence the conversation.
4. Consider your approach. This ties in to points 2 and 3 – they will influence your approach.
5. Ask questions. Listening skills are important when it comes to building trust.
6. Tailor your message for your audience. What is their health literacy, what is their background, what are their questions and concerns?
7. Explain the benefits of getting vaccinated not just the consequences of not doing it. Let them know why you have chosen to vaccinate, not why they should.
8. Be transparent about the common side effects and safety monitoring. Communicate about the benefits of getting vaccinated and the risks associated with not vaccinating but acknowledge the recognised risks and discuss how the benefits outweigh the risks.
To hear more from Jessica and Romy, you can find them at @j_stokesparish and @theimmunisationnurse on social media