A study from April 2021 sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed some startling facts about ways we are missing the mark to address vaccine hesitancy among adults aged 18-64.
This gap between the percentage of unvaccinated adults who trust you, versus those who received information about the vaccines from you is a wonderful opportunity to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination rates. You will listen to their concerns, discuss the risks and benefits, and share in decision-making with your individual patient.
This survey showed the most common concerns to be:
Nearly half reported lack of trust in the government or pharmaceutical companies and 44 percent did not believe they needed a vaccine.
If you do not give the vaccine at your location, you can find out the closest resource (and lots of educational materials) for your patients by entering their zip code here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines
As of July 26th, 2021, only 40% of eligible adults in North Carolina are vaccinated, and the percent of positive cases continues to rise in our state, currently greater than 10%.
According to Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, getting people vaccinated is the quickest way out of the pandemic. You deserve the trust your patients have placed in you. Help save a life!