The 3 Cs of Vaccine Hesitancy

EOS Surfaces · 2 days ago

Those of us who get our flu shots, COVID-19 boosters and other appropriate vaccines may often wonder why everyone doesn't get the available vaccines for themselves or their children. Vaccines don't often cost the patient much, if anything, they are effective, and virtually painless. Some of us may struggle with friends and loved ones who do not see vaccines the same way we do, not knowing how to approach the conversation that might convince them to understand the importance of immunization. This conversation has never been more important. Childhood vaccine rates are going down, taking us below the community immunity threshold for preventable diseases such as measles in many regions. Dropping the flu vaccine requirement for the US Armed Forces resulted in a drop from 100% to 45%, triggering the biggest flu outbreak in decades and even one death (and resulting in the reinstatement of the flu vaccine requirement). So what can we do? One way to prepare for "the vaccine conversation" is to consider what epidemiologists call The 3 Cs of Vaccine Hesitancy: Complacency, Confidence, and Convenience.

Those of us who get our flu shots, COVID-19 boosters and other appropriate vaccines may often wonder why everyone doesn't get the available vaccines for themselves or their children. Vaccines don't often cost the patient much, if anything, they are effective, and virtually painless. Some of us may struggle with friends and loved ones who do not see vaccines the same way we do, not knowing how to approach the conversation that might convince them to understand the importance of immunization. This conversation has never been more important. Childhood vaccine rates are going down, taking us below the community immunity threshold for preventable diseases such as measles in many regions. Dropping the flu vaccine requirement for the US Armed Forces resulted in a drop from 100% to 45%, triggering the biggest flu outbreak in decades and even one death (and resulting in the reinstatement of the flu vaccine requirement). So what can we do? One way to prepare for "the vaccine conversation" is to consider what epidemiologists call The 3 Cs of Vaccine Hesitancy: Complacency, Confidence, and Convenience.