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Even those who fit the stereotype at first glance may have more to their story. Steward, for example, is a conservative-leaning Christian pastor living in rural South Carolina. But his hesitation was not because of his religion or his politics; because he was trying to understand the FDA’s approval process and how it would affect the health of the vaccine.
People are complex and the reasons for not getting vaccinated are personal. Respect these reasons and you can have a more productive conversation.
See if the person is open to conversation. Steward admits to questioning whether covid is real, whether vaccines really make sense, and whether he has options other than vaccines. But he was always open to conversation. “If I wanted to make the right decision, I needed to hear some opposing views,” he says.
A person who has decided that 14% of Americans will definitely not be vaccinated will probably not be open to anything you say. Just stepping back can be a better use of your time and energy.
Be courteous or at least civilized. Maybe you are angry or have trouble understanding what someone is saying. However, the person you are trying to communicate with will immediately silence you if you disrespect them. As I mentioned in an earlier piece talking to conspiracy theorists, scolding or disrespecting someone automatically closes the door for any discussion that might otherwise arise.
Identify the obstacle. For many unvaccinated people, the problem is not that they are so against the vaccine that they need help. maybe they are afraid of needles or If you’re having trouble figuring out how to make an appointment. Maybe they’ve heard of the side effects and won’t be able to take time off from work if they don’t feel well. Ask if there is anything you can do to lighten their load or help clear an obstacle.
Consider the humble text. as i wrote beforeConfronting people on social media in Facebook posts, Twitter replies, Instagram comments is not helpful and can anger others. If you feel compelled to respond to someone who posts about questioning the vaccine, choose a more private way, such as texting.
Tailor your argument to the person. Most of the messages about vaccines included either commands (“Get the vaccine now”) or implicit embarrassment (“If you haven’t been vaccinated, you’re a bad person”). It may be more effective to use language that reinforces the fact that the vaccination process is in one’s own hands.
Daniel Croymans, a physician in the UCLA system, recently to work He discovered that the language of “ownership” helped get people to their covid-19 vaccination appointments. Possessive language refers to words that suggest vaccination is up to the individual: “Request your dose” or “The vaccine is available to you”, for example. In Croymans’ research, texts with possessive language were significantly more successful at getting seniors with pre-existing conditions to first-shot appointments than texts with informational messages. “If you think it belongs to you, you are more likely to value and appreciate it,” says Croymans.
Croymans says the study highlights the importance of creating personalized messages that empower people who are hesitant about vaccines rather than embarrass them. Anyone who wants to persuade others to get vaccinated can try the same tactic.
When talking to an unvaccinated person, consider the person’s specific concerns and try to address them in a way that feels relevant. Don’t use jargon or belittle it. To show you’re listening, repeat the concerns the person has shared and think about what might comfort you if you feel the same way.
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