How Physicians Can Build Trust in COVID-19 Vaccines
Click to download the four-page document with tips and messaging.
May 2021
Ending the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to vaccinate as many Americans as possible. The new vaccines offer our best path toward saving lives, opening schools and businesses, and rebuilding our economy. The decision to get vaccinated is a personal one that is influenced by many factors. Research shows that Americans most trust their own doctor for information about COVID-19 and vaccines. People want unbiased facts about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and information about whether vaccination is the right choice for them – and they want it from their doctor.
The nation is making good progress in getting more people vaccinated, but many still say they will probably not get the vaccine. While numerous national and local efforts are attempting to address people’s concerns, the single most influential factor will be a strong recommendation from a medical professional.
The de Beaumont Foundation and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials has released this four-page guide with ideas that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals can use to build confidence in vaccines among their patients. It incorporates messaging that’s been tested in national polls and focus groups, as well as guidance from the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It includes:
- Six things medical professionals can do to improve vaccine acceptance.
- “Messaging That Works,” with tested language on vaccine safety and effectiveness, side effects, and misinformation.
- Recommendations to make conversations with patients as productive as possible.
- Sample language for letters, emails, or other communications.