I just talked a vaccine-averse patient into getting his flu shot.

[Aristus]

Physician Assistants: The Difficult We Do Immediately. The Impossible......Will Take A Little Longer...

This is good. We're rockin' and rollin'...

[3catwoman3]

1. Congratulations! Can you come amd talk to some of the...

...parents in my pediatric practice?

I can usually tell within about 3 sentences if I stand a snowball's chance of persuading any parent away from their no vaccine stance (and not just the flu shot).

[Aristus]

2. My approach to vaccine-averse parents is simple:

Get your kids vaccinated or get out.

I've thrown more than one set of parents out of the clinic for spewing anti-vaxxer bullshit.

[LiberalLoner]

9. Good for you!

[Aristus]

11. Thank you.

I'm pretty slow to anger, but place kids at risk at one's own risk...

[3catwoman3]

14. I am an employee, as the lone NP...

...in a 9 doc practice, where 8 of the docs are partners. I don't have the authority to do that.

[Aristus]

16. There's such a huge turnover of providers at my organization

that they're willing to do almost anything to keep me happy.

[NBachers]

3. I recently got my flu and pneumonia shots. Tried for a shingles shot, but Walgreens wanted $250.

A little steep for me.

Good going on the vaccine-averse patient. Hopefully, it'll become a habit, and they'll start getting 'em every year.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Try some other pharmacies for the shingles shot.

If you're over 50 (or whatever the recommended age is right now) I'd think it would be one of those things deemed essential for prevention.

Several years ago when I got my shingles shot, I went at the very end of the year, expecting to use up the set-aside account I had through my work health coverage. To my surprise, I had zero co-pay for it.

So shop around for your shingles shot. If you have a walk-in urgent care place near you, give them a call.

[lunamagica]

5. Can you talk to my sister and her husband?

My sister used to get the flu shot, but she hasn't since she married. He is completely against it, saying that the time he got the shot "I came down with a terrible flu" I have explained to him that the virus in the shot is dead, but he won't listen.

His mother is very old and suffers from dementia. She broke her leg and can't walk, but otherwise she's pretty healthy. She lives in a nursing home, and he forbade the staff to give her the flu shot. According to him, she's too old and frail and won't resist if she gets vaccinated, so I told him that if he won't let let her get the shot the best thing he and my sister could do to protect her would be for them to get the vaccine. I'm sure it went in one ear and out the other.

[Aristus]

6. My patient tried to convince me that he got the flu every time he had the vaccination.

He even understood the concept of the inactive virus, and how it can't give you the flu. So I started asking what his primary symptom was when he got the 'flu'. He said: "Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea". I asked him if it was accompanied by respiratory distress. He said no. I told him that wasn't the flu, it was gastroenteritis. Influenza is respiratory in nature.

He said: "Oh", and agree to get his vaccination.

For a dedicated anti-vaxxer like your brother-in-law, usually the best I can do is start looking for a back door to throw him out of.

[3catwoman3]

15. Whenever a parent talks about a kid..

...having "the flu," I always clarify to find out whether they are talking about influenza or the mis-named "stomach flu." About half the time, they mean vomiting and diarrhea. Definitely a teaching opportunity.

Talking to vaccine-averse parents is a lot like talking to Trump lovers. Their mistaken beliefs are firmly entrenched.

[Aristus]

17. Yeah, I can't believe there are still so many people who embrace the idea of

'stomach flu'.

I educate them in a hurry...

[Cicada]

7. Thank you for helping all who might have been infected

You have lowered the odds that each and everyone of us will get the flu. I really appreciate what you have done for us all - especially for me!

[Aristus]

8. He's a thoroughly decent guy.

Last edited Fri Nov 3, 2017, 06:39 PM - Edit history (1)

When I told him that not getting the vaccine may make him a vector for transmitting the virus to someone else, he agreed right away.

[Evergreen Emerald]

10. I was convinced when the PA asked if I had contact with young people or elderly

And that the shot was not for me, but for them. I was guilted into it!

[lame54]

12. You won't be talking me into it

[Aristus]

13. I can't give you one through the computer anyway.

I'm working on it, though...