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gettheseconddoseofthevaccine.”Thisprovidesan opportunity to assess the patient’s understanding of their need for the follow-up visit.
• Watchyourwords.Arecentpollfoundthatthosecom- municating about COVID-19 need to remove politics and partisanship, and instead, remind people that taking steps to prevent the spread of the virus is good for those they love, for the economy, and for a faster return to a more normal life. Clinicians may find the Changing the COVID Conversation: Communications Cheat Sheet published by the de Beaumont Foundation a valuable resource.
• Setrealisticexpectationsaboutpotentialsideeffects.
Explain to patients that they may experience a normal response of sore injection site, low-grade fever, body aches, lethargy, headaches, and other symptoms, so they will not be fearful to return for the second dose. The CDC’s What to Expect after Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine provides factual post-vaccine information
for patients.
• Remind patients that while none of the vaccines
are 100 percent effective, each vaccine has proven efficacious in protecting against severe illness and death and substantially contributes to lessening the spread of the virus. For patients concerned that the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine is sub-standard to the other vaccines, provide information about the differences between the vaccines including efficacy, side effects, and expected outcomes while empha- sizing to patients that gaining access to any vaccine
is the top consideration. For patients receiving the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, stress the importance of receiving the second dose to optimize their protection. Emphasize the need to continue wearing masks, social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene even after getting the vaccine until the CDC recommends differently.
• Recommendavailableapps.Tohelppatientscomply with the second dose of the vaccine, suggest the CDC smartphone app called V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker. This app sends reminders to patients when their second dose is due and provides them with a way to report vaccine side effects.
• Providefactualvaccineinformation.Distribute materials well in advance of the scheduled vaccine appointment. Vaccine information sheets are avail- able through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website: Pfizer-BioNTech—Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, Moderna—Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson)— Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provides easy-to-understand fact sheets for patients on its website: Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines.
• AvoidMisinformation.TheFederationofStateMedical Boards released the following warning: “Physicians who generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misin- formation or disinformation are risking disciplinary action by state medical boards, including the sus- pension or revocation of their medical license. Due
to their specialized knowledge and training, licensed physicians possess a high degree of public trust and therefore have a powerful platform in society, whether they recognize it or not. They also have an ethical
and professional responsibility to practice medicine in the best interests of their patients and must share information that is factual, scientifically grounded and consensus-driven for the betterment of public health. Spreading inaccurate COVID-19 vaccine information contradicts that responsibility, threatens to further erode public trust in the medical profession and puts all patients at risk.”
• Documenttheinformedconsentdiscussion.Ifgiving the vaccine in your office, have the patient sign a COVID-19 vaccine informed consent form prior to the administration of the vaccine, and file it in the patient’s medical record. Document the discussion, including the provision of patient educational materials, the use of established communication tools, and patient engage- ment (including questions, concerns, and how those concerns were addressed).
• TakeadvantageofCDCresources.Topromotepatient compliance with the vaccine, the CDC provides commu- nication resources for physicians on Vaccine Recipient Education, including Answering Patients’ Questions and Making a Strong Recommendation for COVID-19 Vaccination.
Understanding and acknowledging patient perspectives about the vaccine play a principal role in promoting vac- cination compliance. Frontline clinicians should develop
a plan for conducting candid conversations with their patients in a manner that is empathetic and supported
by evidence, while emphasizing the overall benefits to the individual and society. Ultimately, however, it is up to the patient to make an informed decision about their immuni- zation status.
The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure
a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OCMS-MI.ORG
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