Takeaway
When speaking with people who respond to scientific information in a challenging manner, the most critical thing to remember is to stay calm. Refrain from simply "talking over" those with whom you're in conversation.
Connecting with Patients | May 26, 2021 | 1 min read
By Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
We’re re-featuring this piece today in recognition of National Public Health Week 2025.
Unfortunately, objective scientific considerations often aren’t enough to persuade everyone to get vaccinated. We face the challenge of convincing people that a medical intervention that’s stood the test of time—vaccines—is safe and effective. In the last few decades we’ve seen an unprecedented attack on this knowledge. For many clinicians, advocating for vaccines publicly has been met with ant-vaccine arguments. Here are three tips for how to respond:
1. Stay calm.
Many of the anti-vaccine messages aim to bring forth emotion in the public, especially fear. Remain calm when talking with patients, friends, family, and others.
2. Know your audience.
When sharing key vaccine information, identify talking points appropriate for the community you’re talking with. If you can align science with cultural identities, you’re more likely to persuade your target audience. If you’re appealing to your audience in a way that ties their identity with the science, your message will be more effective.
3. Engage with patients and others on a regular basis. Be consistent.
Promoting science is needed now more than ever. Confronting anti-vaccine campaigns doesn’t mean being louder—stay calm, know your audience, and be consistent.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.