Thread by @wendysueswanson

I've encouraged "shot selfies" here for vaccine promotion & education for a decade. BUT there was a glut of vaccine; all were able to vax.

Some of the COVID vax selfies by medical peeps feel entitled/smug to me. Worry it may have opposite effect in a time of vaccine scarcity. 1/

In fact IMO medical tweets/images may cast division between the public and health care workers. Perhaps even increase distrust. In many current doc/RN selfies, I don't see sameness. I can see exclusivity. Like others I am BEYOND pleased frontline workers are getting immunized 2/

But with vaccine scarcity & a lengthy allocation roll-out, I'm not sure the posting of your early vax builds trust in vax science for those who don't have the opportunity to immunize now. Esp with the hiccups in roll-out already occurring (i.e. resident docs not on the list). 3/

Many of us (me included) are wildly eager to be immunized and will wait for months. Grateful for the pioneering vax, research, and early recipients, and allocation thoughtfulness. But vaccine #FOMO is real. 4/

And vaccine FOMO lives also in those who are hesitant and scared about vaccine safety. Seeing images of those early vaccine recipients may not be entrusting/engaging when there is no option other than to stay home/mask/distance for the masses. 5/

Physician-nurse-healthcare worker-med staff leadership comes now w a gentleness. Not bravado. Recognizing the ridiculous toll our healthcare workforce has incurred, and the relief one can feel when getting the vax, I realize the tall order not to immediately post the pic. 6/

Social media is funny that way, tho. Sometimes we HAVE to sit on our hands to do the right thing for others, for public health, for building trust. Sometimes we don't share things even though it would garner attention and followers and clicks. 7/

For now?
~Tweet links to scientific data.
~Share your COVID19 vax selfies with humility, carefully writing words alongside it that consider others who cannot get the vaccine yet.
~SHARE VACCINE FINDINGS FROM POPULATION DATA OVER PERSONAL ANECDOTES. 8/

~Share voices of others who explain how vaccines work, how the science is collected, how we weigh risks/benefits.
~Share how the risk of being immunized pales compared to risk of staying unimmunized in this pandemic.
~Share your engagement in the protection of all vaccines.
9/

~Share how prevention efforts like vaccination work (avoiding suffering, allowing for freedoms, decreasing illness, decreasing isolations, decreasing costs at large)
~Explain community immunity. It's not only the first 1/2 of our population immunized that is most important. 10/

~Share your feelings, yes please, but pair them with the inequities we see (disproportionate illness in brown & black communities, decreased access to care in the poor, children often last to be included in research, some states not getting proportionate vaccine). 11/

I believe in the BOUNTY of a vaccinated population. As a pediatrician I know being immunized against COVID19 will bring safety, freedom, belonging, protection & promise. I don't want to mess up the opportunity for those w an "early shot" to lead and influence as we all watch. 12