The Hesitancy Challenge: Misinformation, Mistrust, and RSV Prevention

In this episode, ‘The Hesitancy Challenge: Misinformation, Mistrust, and RSV Prevention,’ the panel explore the following questions:

1. What are the common barriers preventing optimal RSV immunization?

2. Describe the role of vaccine misinformation and hesitancy since COVID-19. What trends are pharmacists seeing in vaccine skepticism six years later?

3. What resources or materials have you found effective when navigating conversations with patients who are vaccine-hesitant?

The panelists examined how the experience of vaccine mandates during COVID-19 fostered a lasting sense of distrust and resistance, with misinformation exploiting fear of making the wrong choice for oneself or one's child. The panelists noted that while RSV prevention tools aren't at the forefront of anti-vaccine rhetoric, they still suffer from the spillover effects of this broader cultural shift. Practical strategies for engaging hesitant patients include asking about their intentions, focusing on patients in the "movable middle," and equipping them with accessible, patient-friendly materials to review outside the busy pharmacy environment.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provide a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.