Keeping Our Loved Ones Healthy: How to Talk About the COVID-19 Vaccine

vaccine syringe
Posted by Ashley Dittmar on

Image source: Johns Hopkins Medicine

Currently, 57% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (Ritchie et. al., 2021). Over half of Americans are vaccinated, but we still have friends and family who aren’t comfortable getting the vaccine yet. To end the pandemic, 70-90% of people need to get vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus (Mathew, 2021). We need to encourage our loved ones to join the millions of vaccinated Americans.

The COVID-19 vaccine is given as a shot like other vaccines, but people have many different feelings about this vaccine.

Three important tools we can use to empower our friends and family to get vaccinated are:

  1. empathy
  2. factual information
  3. encouragement.

Approaching Friends and Family with Empathy

The information or ‘misinformation’ we see about the COVID-19 vaccine can influence our views on it. Your hesitant loved one may have seen misinformation that has made them uneasy with the idea of getting the vaccine. Listen to them and make sure they don’t feel judged by you when you are talking to them (CDC, 2021a). You can do this by practicing empathy, or putting yourself in their shoes. Keep in mind that they have seen different information than you while you are talking to them.

To communicate well, actively listen by acknowledging their feelings and not interrupting them while they discuss their concerns (UNICEF, 2021).


Image Source: Center for Creative Leadership

Active listening is an important part of communication. When talking, pay attention, avoid making judgmental comments, and repeat what is said to you to clarify.

Ask open-ended questions, so you can learn more about what they are worried about (CDC, 2021a). Avoid questions that they can just answer “yes” or “no”.

Some examples of open-ended questions are:

  • “How did reading that article about the vaccine make you feel?”
  • “What did you think after seeing that on the news?”
  • “What kind of effects do you think the pandemic had on you?”

Sharing Factual Information: Preventing Further Spread of Misinformation

Through discussion, you will find out more about your friend or family member’s worries about the vaccine. After this, ask them if you can share information about their concern with them. According to the CDC (2021a), you can offer to share information by:

  • Sharing trusted information you have already read
  • Sharing sources that you trust
  • Offering to look up information with them

Some evidence-based resources:

Avoid talking only about myths. If you focus on negative rumors about COVID-19 vaccines, this may be the only memory they take from the conversation. If you must talk about a myth, start by saying that you will be talking about misinformation. Always end your statement with a fact about the vaccine (UNICEF, 2021).

Encouragement: Helping Someone Get the Shot

When talking about the vaccine, stay positive and assume that your loved one will get vaccinated (UNICEF, 2021). Use encouraging language to reflect this.

Use words and phrases that show you support your loved one and acknowledge their worries. Encouraging words can help them feel motivated to take control over the pandemic and get vaccinated. 

Help them find their own reason to get vaccinated. This shifts the focus to why they should get vaccinated instead of why they think they shouldn’t (CDC, 2021a). Some examples could be:

  • Seeing family members
  • Traveling
  • Going to large events like concerts

If they seem overwhelmed by the vaccine options, offer to help them find and set up an appointment. You can even offer to give them a ride to the appointment and give moral support (CDC, 2021a).

You may have to have many discussions to help them trust the vaccine more. Don’t get discouraged. Remember, you are making a difference with every conversation.

References: