Crucial Skills®

A Blog by Crucial Learning

Learn More
icon
Submit a Question
Want advice from our authors and experts? Send us your questions!
Ask Now
icon
Newsletter
Take advantage of our free, award-winning newsletter—delivered straight to your inbox.
Subscribe
Recommended Blog Posts

How to Help Team Members Resolve Conflict with Each Other
Read
Smartphone Addiction: Understanding and Overcoming It
Read Response
How to Turn a Resolution into a Habit
Read response

14 thoughts on “How to Talk with Covid Vaccine Skeptics”

  1. Andrew T

    Joseph, thank you for your recommendations. I’ve used them to improve how I approach people about not getting this vaccine. As you well know, there’s a tremendous amount of propaganda aimed at people to get these shots and you have to be careful, and sensitive, when providing an alternative view. Thank you again.

  2. Shirley

    Generally I appreciate you perspective. However, in this instance I do not and for several reasons. First and foremost is that our current vaccination program for Covid is experimental. Thus why would anyone attempt to pressure, no matter how well intentioned, another into participating in research, if they felt strongly that they did not want to?

    Participation is participation in research. This means we do not know many important things. In time we will learn what the short term/long term impact is, what the health consequences are, etc. The experimental nature of our vaccine program seems to be completely forgotten. Like any research an individual can freely elect to participate or not.

    Second, the vaccine does not prevent “catching” it but supposedly mitigates the severity. I believe you assume in your example of a residential school for adults that if vaccinated they would all be safe. Yet, we know that a vaccinated individual can spread the virus, can contract, and yes can die from the virus.

    Third, the irony of influence is that those trying to influence always think their way of thinking is the right way and only way to consider a situation. I know many individuals that have submitted to the vaccine with their insides in knots because of significant fear. Some of us consider the information and make a different choice. This makes us neither stupid or ill informed and the assumption that it does and therefor are open to influence is an incorrect assumption.

    Oh my gosh the part about credible resources. Take a look at the reporting from credible resources and compare. They are not even getting it correct. The language is not always accurate and assumptions are made. You have to be able to think and read critically to detect the nuance, assumptions, and inaccuracies. Luckily for me I have education and training that provides the tools I need.

    How is it that we have gotten to the point that we are expected to take part in research without question? That one makes the decision for what another must inject into their body? Or the assumption that individuals of varied backgrounds should arrive at the same decision? Rather, I have made my well researched decision and you have made yours. Good for us both. I suggest you save your influence protocol for another topic and certainly for another person. I have convinced myself. Have you? Really? Perhaps you are are the one more appropriate for influence.

  3. Godfrey

    At the moment no one really knows for sure the ultimate consequences of the Covid vaccines. Only time will tell. But if everyone wants for that time to come the virus may never be brought under control. While everyone is free to make their own decision it is surely nobler, braver and in the interests of the greater good to offer to take the vaccine. It will be helping research move ahead quickly rather than stagnating for lack of data.

  4. Scott Stein

    How about an article on how to talk to true believers in Covid as the new Plague, masks, and the DNA therapy and all of the measures being taken for a virus with a low-risk of infection and a high survival rate? It is very frustrating to be shamed for talking facts and data in the face of overwhelming media slamming. I am very tired of not being able to get people to think beyond media sound bites.

  5. Julinda

    I generally don’t try to discuss it much with “skeptics.” I just try to set a positive example by sharing information from credible sources and sharing my own experiences (appointments,getting the shots, my experience afterwards) on social media. I’ve found that most older people (60s and up) who I know are getting the vaccine regardless of political leanings. They know they are at higher risk of serious results. A relative of mine was skeptical; a friend had told him they were using the vaccine to “take our guns away.” I did ask him how; he didn’t know. But he did end up deciding to get it. Maybe my question made him think, maybe not, but I’m glad he’s getting it! The pandemic is very real, and very deadly. I think some people don’t want to believe it, so they grasp on to any self-declared expert who denies the facts.

Leave a Reply