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COVID-19 UPDATE

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A third survey of 18,000 people Figure 5: Percentage who says they are likely to turn to each of the following when
2
conducted in English via Facebook deciding whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine
in February through April 2021
developed state specific data.
Understanding these categories,
the author argues, allows public
health officials and medical
providers to understand where
they face the most challenges and
respond more specifically to the
concerns of the vaccine hesitant.

WHAT THE PROVIDER CAN DO
There is no one answer or technique to convince every vaccine hes- 19-vaccine-monitor-dashboard/messages/messages/informa-
itant person to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. But providers should tion#messengers.
know the facts and encourage vaccine uptake among eligible patients. 3. Leonhardt, D. (2021, May 24). The Vaccine Class Gap. The New
Earlier this year in a national poll, more people responded that they York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/24/briefing/
listen to their medical providers more than other sources for vaccine vaccination-class-gap-us.html.
information. 4. Sgaier, S. K. (2021, May 18). Meet the Four Kinds of People
Holding Us Back From Full Vaccination. The New York Times.
DO https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/18/opinion/cov
• Ask why vaccine hesitant patients are concerned about the id-19-vaccine-hesitancy.html.
COVID-19 vaccine. Be respectful of their reasons.
• Explain your views. Diane Simpson, MD is a retired physician who is a member of the Pub-
• Offer to answer their questions. The BCMS has information on lic Health and Patient Advocacy Committee and the COVID-19 Task-
COVID vaccines available through The Physicians Link. force of the BCMS.
• Be honest about the limitations and side effects of COVID-19 vac-
cines.
• Recommend the vaccine to eligible unvaccinated patients.
• Have on hand and make available the most recent information on
the site and time of COVID-19 vaccination clinics and nearby
pharmacies that offer the COVID vaccine. If possible, post infor-
mation in the waiting room.

DON’T
• Jump into an argument without thinking.
• Argue, become angry and/or respond only with, “You are wrong.”

References
1. KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Dashboard. kff.org. (n.d.).
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/dashboard/kff-covid-
19-vaccine-monitor-dashboard/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhD-
bARIsACjwLo0LjHeLEbqaRCX0vz_sIb3hwuceWCsM5ZHyt_
8pwhCXYgqUXY_lwt4aAimAEALw_wcB.
2. KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Dashboard. kff.org. (n.d.).
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/dashboard/kff-covid-

24 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • July 2021