AMA: Practical guidance for vaccine conversations

Talking to vaccine-hesitant parents can be a challenging, sensitive topic.

A pediatrician has shared several techniques, drawing from her experience, that support constructive conversations about immunization in the latest edition of the Alberta Medical Association’s Alberta Doctors’ Digest:

• Start with curiosity and open, neutral questions
• Focus on reaching a shared understanding and common goals, such as a desire to keep the child safe and healthy
• Address concerns with humility to maintain trust
• Respond to personal experiences or anecdotes with care before sharing evidence-based information
• Keep the door open to future conversations as people need time to process information

About a three-minute read, the full article includes examples for the techniques.

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