Vaccine Champion Training Course : Three-Part Module-Handout: Be a Vaccine Champion: Immunization Challenges and Vaccine Hesitancy

Handout: Be a Vaccine Champion: Immunization Challenges and Vaccine Hesitancy

Pdf Summary

Module #3 of the Vaccine Champion Training Course, supported by the CDC and HHS, focuses on immunization challenges and addressing vaccine hesitancy. Arthur P. Sanchez, a nurse informaticist with a background in occupational medicine, spearheads this module, aiming to boost vaccination rates among underrepresented groups.<br /><br />The course lays out the definition of vaccine hesitancy, highlighting it as a delay or refusal to accept vaccines even when services are available. Contributors to vaccine hesitancy include cultural beliefs, education levels, socioeconomic status, and misinformation. Concerns about new vaccines, such as safety and side effects, also contribute.<br /><br />Specific characteristics of vaccine-hesitant individuals often include younger populations, those with less education, individuals from rural areas, women making decisions for their children, and people distrustful of healthcare systems. In occupational health settings, challenges include varied beliefs, language barriers, misinformation, and perceived risks, compounded by workplace policies and access issues like irregular work hours.<br /><br />Bias in healthcare can influence the acceptance of vaccines, with common biases like negativity bias or authority bias affecting patients' decision-making. The SHARE method is promoted as a strategy, offering a framework for engaging patients in discussions about vaccination by answering questions in plain language and emphasizing the benefits of vaccines.<br /><br />Vaccine fatigue, marked by disinterest or burnout concerning vaccine information, is another focus area. Strategies to counteract this include personalized messaging, reducing access barriers, and positive narratives.<br /><br />Finally, the course emphasizes the role of vaccine champions in promoting vaccinations, setting examples, educating audiences, and supporting pro-vaccine policies. The overarching goal is to foster a more positive environment towards vaccination, countering misinformation effectively, and tackling both hesitancy and fatigue in various demographic groups.

Keywords

vaccine hesitancy

immunization challenges

Arthur P. Sanchez

underrepresented groups

misinformation

cultural beliefs

healthcare bias

vaccine fatigue

SHARE method

vaccine champions