COVID19 Vaccine Ambassadors Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy with Understanding

COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassadors Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy with Understanding and Facts Alyson Van. Ahn Ph. D LP Associated Clinic of Psychology Simon Mittal, MD Envisage Health, Inc.

Welcome and Thank you!

trusted peers. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network “ “ The most effective way to address vaccine hesitancy is through conversations with - Institute for Healthcare Improvement COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 3

1 2 COVID Vaccine Ambassador Understanding Vaccine Facts Context & Importance Increasing Acceptance 3 Approach Active Listening Validation Overview for Today Special Scenarios Practical Information 4 Practice Sessions 5 COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 4 Follow Up Support in Your Role

Your Important Role in Supporting Others

Background for Your Role Range of vaccine acceptance in senior care facilities Understand learn skills for implementation Importance of vaccine acceptance Reasons for vaccine hesitancy Effective methods for increasing vaccine acceptance COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 6

Range of Acceptance 90% 60% Facility D Facility B Facility C Facility A 30% Facility E Percentage of staff taking the vaccine ranges across facilities, but averages between about 40 -60%. It goes as high as about 85 -90% and as low as 30% or less. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 7

Importance of Vaccine Acceptance We are working toward “herd immunity” which means enough people are immune (most will do this via the vaccine) that the virus can no longer take hold and disrupt our lives. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 8

Why the Hesitation? Fear COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network Lack of information 9 Others?

How Can We Move to Acceptance? Facts COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network Empathy 10 Personal Connections

Why Now? Why You? You can provide the ingredients that increase the chance more people will accept the vaccine. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Now is critical given the distance we remain from herd immunity and the ongoing risk, including variants, despite all your efforts. Opportunity to change the experience of many individuals and groups who have historically been unheard, dismissed, otherwise marginalized. Your presence here means you value this, so you already have a great chance to make a difference! COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 11

Your Role WHAT YOUR ROLE INCLUDES: Fostering a comfortable place to have dialogue. Encouraging further dialogue and questions. Starting positive relationships. Creating a positive experience talking about personal vaccine opinions. • Increasing the probability people would consider taking a vaccine OR come back for more information and reduced fear around accepting vaccine. • • YOUR ROLE DOES NOT INCLUDE: • Selling anything • Having to convince anyone COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 12

Increasing Acceptance: Vaccine Facts

? Just the Facts What is in the vaccine and how will it protect me from getting sick with COVID-19? Company Type Efficacy J&J (1 shot) Adenovirus 72% US; 66% worldwide Pfizer (2 shots) m. RNA 95% Moderna (2 shots) m. RNA 94. 1% The vaccine teaches your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19 COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 14

? Just the Facts The vaccine was developed quickly, how can I trust that it is safe? COVID-19 vaccines are being held to the same safety standards as all vaccines. • There are 4 clinical trial phases with very intense safety criteria to move to the next phase. • FDA advises testing vaccines on a minimum of 3, 000 study trial participants with no significant harmful side effects to move to Phase 4. o The COVID-19 vaccine phase 3 trials have had 30, 000 to 50, 000 participants. o Most adverse side effects occur within 6 weeks of vaccine administration; FDA has required 8 weeks of safety monitoring for tracking side effects. • Phase 4 involves continued monitoring and gathering of safety data by 2 different independent advisory committees who are experts and do not have any conflict of interest in the approval of the vaccine. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 15

? Just the Facts Will the vaccine give me COVID or make me sick? No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines use the live virus that causes COVID-19. You may experience some side effects from the vaccine: • Does NOT mean the vaccine has given you COVID. • Does mean that the vaccine is doing its job and is creating antibodies to fight off the virus. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 16

? Just the Facts What are the side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines? There can be mild or moderate vaccine reactions for a day or so for a percentage of people who receive them. Side effects among the vaccines are very similar: • • • Local injection site pain, swelling, redness Fatigue Fevers Chills Muscle aches Nausea and vomiting This is the effect of your body developing immunity. Typically goes away after a day, sometimes sooner. When you receive the second dose of the vaccine, the discomfort can be more pronounced. This is a normal reaction. There are some steps you can take to treat side effects before and after an injection. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 17

? Just the Facts Is it safe for me to get vaccinated if I would like to have a baby one day? Yes. If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you may receive the COVID-19 vaccine when available to you. • Overall safe in pregnancy and with lactation. • No impact on fertility. • Wait to have other vaccines, like flu and shingles for example. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 18

? Just the Facts – Speed Round • Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA? • I have already had COVID, why do I need to be vaccinated? • Have stem cells from aborted babies been used in the vaccine? • Isn’t it better for people to get COVID and produce antibodies? • Does the vaccine help fight against mutations/variants? COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 19

? Just the Facts Do I need to still take precautions after I am vaccinated? Even though you’ve received the required number of doses for the vaccine you received, and waited two weeks to achieve maximum immunity, many of the people around you have not been vaccinated. We know the vaccine prevents disease in the vaccinated person. However, it still may be possible to transmit the disease to others, until the vaccine is in widespread use. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network Wearing a mask, social distancing, and practicing hand hygiene protects those who have not been vaccinated, especially our residents in long-term care. 20

Increasing Acceptance: Empathy and Personal Connections

Ambassador Support Special Scenarios Active Listening Approach COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network Validation 22 Practical Information

Approach/ Being Approached When and where to start a conversation This will ideally be site-specific and can include one of more of the following options for approaching conversations: • Casual, random preparedness for talks that “come up” during the work day. • During structured meetings (IDT) introduction of your role and time for encouragement. • “Office hours” and designated area to schedule formal or hold impromptu meetings. • Offering phone or more private meetings may be considered. This will include: • A point person in leadership to pair with for consultation, processes and other items (make sure you know who this is and where to take questions). • AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: please see your site leader to review. • Support from Leading. Age Minnesota to answer questions and make this most effective at your site. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 23

Active Listening Encouragers • Mmm hmm • Head nodding • “I see” Reflection/Paraphrasing • “so you said ____” • “if I got this right, you have good reasons for hesitating and it would be more comfortable for you to accept a vaccine if…” “so you said…” COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 24 Focused attention • Convey this by encouraging and reflecting, paraphrasing, making eye contact if that is comforting

Validation Warmth… smiling, reassurance verbally and nonverbally Relationship Building… “I really respect where you’re coming from. ” Empathy… “That must be such a tough situation. ” Conveying Legitimacy…. “Of course that is important to you…” Customer Service 101 Appreciation… “Thank you so much for helping me understand…” Follow Up… “I hope you’ll check in with me again. Would it be okay if I follow up with you as well? ” VALIDATION IS ONE OF THE SINGLE, most POWERFUL TOOLS you can use in THIS ROLE and the rest of your WORK and PERSONAL LIVES COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 25

Special Scenarios with peers When you have different values or opinions: • Know the context of pressures unique to each individual to keep empathy. • Understand there’s much you don’t know and it’s okay to have your opinion…you can still be effective. When it’s a staff member you don’t know or have had prior difficult experiences with: • Validation and appreciations are your friend. • Acknowledging this is different and you are grateful for the opportunity. What are scenarios you can imagine? COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 26

Special Scenarios with Residents • • • Discomfort of disclosing status Guilt regarding vaccine status Defensiveness regarding vaccine status Impact on care interactions Others? What to do to help staff with the above experiences or fears… • Use active listening and validation skills. • Acknowledge their efforts to manage the situation. • Provide ways to stay neutral with residents and debrief with others outside the care interactions/with residents. COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 27

How to Conclude a Conversation Gracefully When someone has many thoughts or emotions around this: conclude and consult/refer Validate and note “I want to make sure you get any supports that will make this easier. Let’s pause for now and have a plan for next steps to support you in the important process. ” When someone becomes angry or irritated with the topic of vaccine during your conversation: Thank them for communicating, conclude Validate their perspective “Thank you for chatting. I’m open to talking again because this may remain a difficult topic for you at work. Remember I am always available if you need to talk in the future. ” When someone starts to share their negative view of the vaccine or begins to encourage you to be skeptical: Remain an active listener with skills above. Note that they Thank them for seem to have passion about this, which makes it even communicating and more encouraging that they engaged in this conversation work to conclude at all. Say, “Thank you. I hope you will continue feeling for now comfortable to ask questions. Let me know if I can help. ” These conversations are designed to be fairly brief. You can always conclude “for now” with plans to consult others for the best supports for the individual COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 28

Practical Information and Experience FOCUS on one or more of the tools shared USE and PRACTICE to feel comfortable CHOOSE someone (here or in your life outside of here) to practice with again YOU HAVE ALREADY STARTED on a GREAT FOOT! USE your SUPPORT GIVE FEEDBACK so we can best SUPPORT YOU! COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 29

Modeling and Follow-up

Conversations in Action Active listening Watch for these strategies Validation Encouragement COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 31

Follow up Support in Your Role No NEED for perfection Don’t worry about remembering all of this YOU HAVE a cheat sheet (Quick Reference Guide and Vaccine Hesitancy website) Know your point person(s): On SITE and AMONG US You already have the MOTIVATION and EFFORT, now just have the conversations! THANK YOU! COVID Vaccine Ambassador Network 32

Questions?