Thread by @DrRobDavidson

My ER is now offering #COVID19 vaccinations. The conversations are long and somewhat non-conducive to ER visits, but I am trying.

A brief thread on how the conversations are going broken down by the type of resistant patient with whom I am speaking. 1/10

First are the folks who want to be vaccinated, but have barriers to getting the shot(s).

In my rural area, the barriers seem to be transportation and getting time off of work to get the shot(s) and for the day after for those who need it. 2/10

We need to get the shots to people where they are, and we need paid leave for getting the shot(s) and for the people who need a day or two after.

In other communities the barriers are different, and we need to remove those barriers. 3/10

Next are those who get the routine vaccines, but are hesitant about these "new" vaccines.

I try to remind them that the technology for the #COVID19 vaccines is at least a decade old, and all safety processes were followed to get the EUAs from the @US_FDA. 4/10

They voice concern about blood clots, seemingly from the reporting on the J&J vaccine and the pause.

I tell them #COVID19 increases the risk of blood clots beyond that associated with the vaccines. I share stories of my COVID patients who have almost died from blood clots. 5/10

Additionally, this group seems to genuinely care about their family and neighbors. This argument for vaccination seems impactful.

Finally, "getting back to normal" seems important. Talking about safely gathering and "opening up" with vaccinations seems helpful. 6/10

The final group are the truly resistant.

I would argue to abandon this group altogether, but this is a significant part of the communities that I serve, 69% of whom voted for Trump.

I've been serving these folks for 2 decades, and I want them protected. 7/10

I have no idea what works with this group beyond some "data" generated by a @FrankLuntz focus group saying that they want facts, and they trust physicians, specifically their physician. 8/10

I have yet to "convert" any of these people. I tell them the facts and recommend they talk with their PCP. I hope that their PCP can be persuasive.

It would make our jobs a lot easier of folks like @RonJohnsonWI and @FoxNews stopped spreading disinformation to this group. 9/10

To my #MedTwitter friends, please continue to talk with your patients and do not give up. Stay tuned with @cmteetoprotect for opportunities to help.

Continue to spread the truth about #COVID19 and the #Vaccine, and together we can get to community immunity. /END