Pharmacists enhance COVID-19 vaccination rates by connecting messages to patients’ daily lives, personalised risk assessments, and flexible scheduling, building trust and dispelling vaccine fears.
Pharmacists trying to persuade hesitant patients to get vaccinated may have better results when they stop talking in abstract terms and start connecting the message to everyday life. In Drug Topics, Jeff Goad said the challenge is often not the science itself but translating it into language patients can use and trust. Marcel Curlin said the pharmacy counter is a particularly useful place for that conversation because many people already see pharmacists as reliable health advisers.
Curlin’s advice centres on making the risk personal. He suggested that pharmacists talk through a patient’s own medical vulnerability or the possibility of exposing someone at home, such as an older relative, to COVID-19. He also recommended stressing that vaccines have a long safety record and have been given to millions of people over many years, which can help counter the sense that newer vaccines are experimental or unfamiliar.
For patients uneasy about mRNA vaccines or worried about post-vaccination side effects, Curlin said a protein-based option can be a useful alternative. He described the short-term symptoms some people feel after vaccination as normal signs that the immune system is responding, rather than evidence of harm. The message, Goad said, is ultimately simple: the priority is getting protected, whether the patient chooses an mRNA vaccine or a protein-based one.
Timing can also matter. Curlin suggested that patients concerned about missing work could book a shot for a Thursday or Friday, leaving the weekend free in case they feel tired or achy afterwards. That kind of practical planning, combined with clear explanation and a personal touch, fits with wider evidence that pharmacists are well placed to address vaccine hesitancy because of their accessibility, their role in community care and the trust many patients place in them. Research indexed by PubMed and guidance from the American Medical Association both point to the same basic idea: when healthcare professionals listen carefully, answer concerns plainly and give people room to weigh their options, vaccination conversations are more likely to succeed.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
