Raise your hand if you are tired of talking about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Ah. Yes, I see the show of fingertips.
And yet with cases spiking throughout the country, the delta virus wreaking havoc and more variants beginning to emerge, the storyline remains the same: We have to increase vaccination levels.
The home care field, which is struggling with the problem as is the rest of long-term care, seems as good a place to start as any.
The question is how to do it. It has become pretty clear at this point that the hesitant do not respond well to news reports — however objective — or doctors — however credentialed — providing stats and data and persuasive language. A much more effective approach is when a peer talks to another peer about it, being genuinely curious, thoughtful and caring.
Johnita Cooper gets this, which is why she has succeeded in helping to increase her firm’s vaccination rates to 70%. In a Home Sweet Home article this week, Cooper, a caregiver, addressed the issue of hesitancy among staff at her employer, Arosa. It’s real fear that is at the root of people’s resistance to the vaccine at this point, said Cooper, who serves on her company’s COVID-19 task force. And those who are afraid are more comfortable talking to fellow care managers about their concerns.
Continuing to call out misinformation surrounding the vaccines is another important tactic, she said.
Which brings me to this fun informational video about vaccine hesitancy I saw on Twitter this week. Drew Comments’ video has garnered 1.7 million views. Check it out here.
It’s hard not to smile when you watch this video — or find yourself nodding in agreement.
Liza Berger is editor of McKnight’s Home Care. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her @lizaberger19.
