Most people are well aware of the fact that seniors are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. They make up the majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, forcing facilities to go above and beyond the protocol of national safety guidelines.
Luckily, the situation has improved, and significant progress has been made. As of May 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 84.0% of adults 65 and older got their first dose and 71.9% are gotten the vaccine.
On the other hand, many healthcare workers have yet to get a coronavirus shot, and some don’t intend to. According to a March 7 survey, about 52% got their first dose, while a whopping 18% don’t intend to get vaccinated.
This is a cause of concern for many providers. Seniors are more vulnerable than other populations and the last thing workers want is an outbreak. Organizations have tried to combat this by doing everything from vaccine campaigns, vaccine mandates and even dishing out monetary incentives. While some of these work, you also want to be aware of the legal ramifications
If you’re a community leader that is trying to encourage vaccinations, make sure your community strategy is checking off these boxes.
Transparency and honesty is the way to go
Did you know that less than half of the American population trusts mainstream media? Most people, across all political spectrums, agree that practically all media outlets have a bias.
The lack of trust in society’s central institutions impacts how messages are received. Even with the best intentions, messaging on something that is already so heavily reported can be difficult. The best thing you can do is do your research. Any new improvements, any updates, any studies – read and share them. Emphasize hard facts over misinformation.
Meet people where they are
The most important factor in people’s decision-making is the factor of why. Why are people hesitant? Some may be reticent because the vaccine is fairly new. Some are waiting for new research to come out. Some may just not know any information at all.
Their concern is going to impact your strategy. A lot of people have valid concerns. While it may be a waste of time to dump resources on someone who is clearly opposed, it’s worth answering the questions of someone who is interested in learning more.
Leaders are the example
Executives, colleagues, influential team members all have an impact on your messaging. If you’re trying to encourage others to get the vaccination, they are going to set the precedent for everyone else. It doesn’t make sense for an executive to encourage lower-level employees to get vaccinated when they haven’t done it themselves.
If you take the time to listen to the feedback of your residents and your team, that feedback should inform your communication strategy. There is no cookie-cutter formula that is going to guarantee that every resident and every worker is going to be receptive to your messaging. However, taking what you know now, you can adjust your strategy to achieve the best results for your community.