William Buchholz, MD
The Person Reluctant to Vaccination: © Can Stock Photo / benzoix
Some Approaches Updated 2/15/21
The strategy of changing minds There are many reasons given for declining vaccination: misinformation, lack of knowledge of facts; negative cultural experiences with medicine; deeply held ideas and convictions; fear and underlying suspicion. To address a person’s reluctance start with two principles: be curious why the person is reluctant and allow the person to feel heard and their beliefs understood. Different reasons require different approaches. Misinformation and lack of knowledge may be addressed by providing TRUSTWORTHY true information. Explaining the foundation for misinformation which may have some distorted truth can replace the doubts about vaccination. Providing the scientific source of facts, possibly with a reference website or source of the information (like the CDC or county public health department) makes shifting ideas easier. Acknowledging outright that certain events do occur and adding the frequency—often far lower than the person believes—can create a tolerable sense of risk and benefit. Some persons may recognize only some sources of information as trustworthy. If science is not one of them then the words
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and experience of friends or other individuals like clergy—for example a parish priest--or even celebrities, may allow them to accept information. Negative cultural experiences like the Tuskegee experiment to deny Blacks effective treatment for syphilis to understand the natural history of the disease can create deep suspicion of the medical system in general. Persons of color or underserved populations likewise may have unpleasant and disappointing experiences with the medical system and not understand that it can work well for them. This type of hesitancy may not be refusal but a wait and see attitude. If they can gathering more real time positive information on vaccination that may allow them to accept the shots. Deeply held beliefs, often arising from mistrust and fear, require a different approach. Until you discover what that person believes or fears you can’t have a logical conversation with them. Mark Twain once remarked You can’t reason someone out of something they weren’t reasoned into. The best thing to do is listen without judgement
