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Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents


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Talking with Parents about Vaccines for Infants						Print
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			Assume Parents Will VaccinateGive Your Strong RecommendationListen to and Respond to Parents' QuestionsWhat If Parents Refuse to Vaccinate?Wrapping Up the Conversation
		
Doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and office staff all play a key role in establishing and maintaining a practice-wide commitment to communicating effectively about vaccines and maintaining high vaccination rates. You can all answer parents’ questions, provide educational materials, and ensure that families make and keep vaccine appointments.
Parents consider their child’s healthcare professionals to be their most trusted source of information when it comes to vaccines. This is true even for parents who are vaccine-hesitant or who have considered delaying one or more vaccines. Therefore, you have a critical role in helping parents choose vaccines for their child.
With all you do, you may feel that long vaccine conversations are stressful when you also need to check physical and cognitive milestones and have a full schedule of patients. Because of this, we designed this resource to guide you with conversational techniques and resources for discussing vaccines with parents.
Flow chart describing steps to take when talking with parents about vaccines: Step one, Assume parents will vaccinate. If parents consent with no further questions, then administer recommended vaccine doses. If parents are not ready to vaccinate then, Step two, Give your strong recommendation. If parents accept your recommendation, then administer recommended vaccine doses. If parents have specific questions or concerns then, Step three, Listen to and respond to parent’s questions. If parents respond positively to your answers, then administer recommended vaccine doses.Assume Parents Will Vaccinate
*State which vaccines the child needs to receive.*
When discussing vaccines for children, it is best to remember most parents are planning to accept vaccines and to introduce the topic with that in mind. State the child will receive vaccines as though you presume that parents are ready to accept recommended vaccines for their child during that visit. For example:
Instead of saying *“What do you want to do about shots?,”* say ***“Your child needs three shots today.”***
Instead of saying *“Have you thought about the shots your child needs today?,”* say ***“Your child needs DTaP, Hib, and Hepatitis B shots today.”***
A research study looking at health care professionals (HCPs) and parents’ interactions during vaccine visits showed that parents were more likely to express concerns when providers used language that asked parents about their vaccination plans. In this study, the presumptive approach resulted in significantly more parents accepting vaccines for their child, especially at first-time visits1. However, if parents still hesitate or express concerns, move to the next step and give your strong recommendation.
Give Your Strong Recommendation
*If parents express concerns, then share your strong vaccine recommendation.*
Although parents frequently consult family members, friends, and webpages for information on vaccines, parents consistently rank their child’s doctor as their most trusted source for vaccine information. With this unique position, your strong recommendation is critical for vaccine acceptance.
Clearly state your strong recommendation. If appropriate, you can add a brief supporting statement that uses a mix of science and anecdote, depending on what you think will be most effective with that parent. Share the importance of vaccines to protect children from potentially life threatening diseases, or talk about your personal experiences with vaccination. For example:
“I strongly recommend your child get these vaccines today....”
“...These shots are very important to protect him from serious diseases.”
“...I believe in vaccines so strongly that I vaccinated my own children on schedule.”
“...This office has given thousands of doses of vaccines, and we have never seen a serious reaction.”
Listen to and Respond to Parents’ Questions
*Seek to understand parents’ concerns and provide requested information.*
Male doctor with mother and smiling baby
Preparing for Questions Parents May Ask About Vaccines is a companion resource for this page. Explore some of the vaccine topics parents ask about most and find tips for how to answer their questions.
Although research shows most parents in the U.S. support vaccines, you will encounter parents with questions. If a parent has concerns, resists following the recommended vaccine schedule, or questions your strong recommendation, this doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t accept vaccines. Sometimes parents simply want *your* answers to their questions. Your willingness to listen to their concerns will play a major role in building trust in you and your recommendation.
When listening, seek to understand the concerns behind parents’ questions before responding with information the parent may not be asking about. If you encounter questions you do not know the answer to, or information from sources you are unfamiliar with, it is best to acknowledge the parent’s concerns and share what you *do know.* Offer to review the information they have found and, if necessary, schedule another appointment to discuss it further.
What If Parents Refuse to Vaccinate?
If parents decline immunizations after your strong recommendation and conversation, use the following strategies:
Continue the conversation about vaccines during the next visit and restate your strong recommendation.
Inform parents about clinical presentations of vaccine-preventable diseases, including early symptoms.
Remind parents to call before bringing their child into the office, clinic, or emergency department when the child is ill so health care professionals can take precautions to protect others. Explain that when scheduling an office visit for an ill child who has not received vaccines, you will need take all possible precautions to prevent contact with other patients, especially those too young to be fully vaccinated and those who have weakened immune systems.
Share *If You Choose Not to Vaccinate Your Child, Understand the Risks and Responsibilities* with parents. This fact sheet explains the risks involved with their decision, including risks to other members of their community, and additional precautionary responsibilities for parents.
You may wish to have parents sign AAP’s Refusal to Vaccinate form each time a vaccine is refused so that you have a record of their refusal in their child’s medical file.Wrapping Up the Conversation
Remember that success comes in many forms. It may mean that parents accept all vaccines when you recommend them, or that they schedule some vaccines for another day. For very vaccine-hesitant parents, success may simply mean agreeing to leave the door open for future conversations.
Work with parents to agree on at least one action, such as:
Scheduling another appointment or
Encouraging the parent to read additional information you provide them.If a parent declines vaccines once, it does not guarantee they always will. Continue to remind parents about the importance of keeping their child up to date on vaccines during future visits and work with them to get their child caught up if they fall behind.
1Opel, D. J., MD, MPH. (2015). The Influence of Provider Communication Behaviors on Parental Vaccine Acceptance and Visit Experience. *The American Journal of Public Health, 105*(10), 1998-2004.
Find resources for specific parent questionsPreparing for Questions Parents May Ask About Vaccines
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							Last Reviewed:  April 11, 2018						Source: 	National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
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Talking with Parents about Vaccines for Infants
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