Clear communication about vaccines is essential for helping people make informed decisions about their health. The Center for Health & Science Communication at Becker Library has compiled several resources to assist with effective vaccine communication.
American Academy of Pediatrics – Talking with Vaccine Hesitant Parents
This resource offers healthcare providers best practices when communicating with patients who might be vaccine-hesitant. It includes several strategies, such as listening to parents’ concerns, crafting messages using the “truth sandwich” method, and making presumptive rather than participatory recommendations.
Public Health Communications Collaborative – Communicating More Effectively About Vaccines
This toolkit from the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) provides effective talking points on vaccines, based on focus group research with parents. It includes talking points related to vaccine development, vaccine review and monitoring, and safety and effectiveness. PHCC also provides resources on messaging related to vaccines and autism, as well as on how to discuss vaccine ingredients.
World Health Organization – How to Talk About Vaccines
WHO provides guidance on general communication strategies to engage with patients who may be hesitant about vaccinations. Strategies include asking open-ended questions, listening with empathy, and sharing trusted information.
de Beaumont Foundation – Vaccine Communication Tips
This two-page vaccine communication tip sheet offers general guidance, including tailoring the message to your audience, avoiding judgmental language, and explaining the benefits. It also highlights words to use less and words to use more when talking about vaccines. The suggestions are based on de Beaumont’s 2020 “The Language of Vaccine Acceptance” poll.
FrameWorks – Communicating About Vaccination in the United States: A FrameWorks Strategic Brief
While this resource provides a comprehensive research brief on vaccine communication developed in response to COVID-19 vaccines, its content remains applicable to general vaccine conversations. Through interviews with researchers, practitioners, advocates, and the general public, FrameWorks identified both helpful and challenging beliefs about vaccines and vaccination in the United States. The strategic brief shares insights on expert and public thinking and guides how to discuss the importance of vaccines in general with an emphasis on childhood vaccination.
Reach out to the Center for Health & Science Communication at Becker Library to learn how we can support your communication needs at WashU Medicine.