The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Tips for Talking to Your Patients About Vaccination

Tips for Talking to Your Patients About Vaccination

May 13, 2021 • By Keri Losavio

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF
Tang Yan Song / shutterstock.com

Tang Yan Song / shutterstock.com

We know a large percentage of the U.S. population falls into a vaccine-hesitant group. In fact, only 60% of Americans plan to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to an article in The Atlantic.1 Given that rheumatology patients are among the vulnerable, we asked a handful of ACR/ARP members whether they have been vaccinated themselves and how they are broaching the topic with their patients.

You Might Also Like
  • Coronavirus Vaccination Assistance
  • COVID-19 Vaccination for Immunosuppressed Patients: From Guidance to Advocacy
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Strategies Suggested for Patients on Anti-Rheumatic Immunosuppressive Therapy
Explore This Issue
May 2021
Also By This Author
  • COVID-19 Update: FDA Revokes Emergency Use Authorization for Monoclonal Antibody Bamlanivimab

Below are some tips to help get the conversation about vaccination started with your patients.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Acknowledge Concerns

Suleman Bhana, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR’s Communications and Marketing Committee and a rheumatologist in practice at Crystal Run Healthcare, West Nyack, N.Y., says, “I have been vaccinated, along with my adult family members.”

Dr. Bhana says he is recommending all his patients get vaccinated. “I ask them the following questions during a visit: 1) Did you get your COVID-19 vaccine yet? 2) Do you have an appointment or plan to get it? 3) Do you have any concerns about that vaccine that I can help answer?

Dr. Bhana

“I tell them that a national organization has convened a group of physician scientists to give guidelines and recommendations, and I paraphrase the ACR position statement, indicating that all patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases should receive COVID-19 vaccination, including those on immunomodulatory therapy.2

“I then go over any questions they may have about medication management.

“I find it best to acknowledge their concerns within reason. In the rare event I have a patient who states, ‘There are micro­chips in the vaccine,’ that ends the conversation for me.”

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Talk to Every Patient

Dr. Monga

“The great news is that a majority of my patients are already vaccinated at Houston Methodist,” says Kanika Monga, MD. Dr. Monga completed her internship and residency training at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, where she also performed a fellowship in rheumatology. She is a rheumatologist at Houston Methodist Academic Medicine Associates.

“I broach the topic with every patient I see in my clinic,” says Dr. Monga. “I respect that each patient is different and may be on different levels of understanding of what is safe and available for them. I reassure them that we have excellent guidance from the ACR, especially when it comes to specific DMARDs/biologics.

“We go through some of the charts together. I remind them that, at the end of the day, their personal choice matters most, but I am available to help dispel myths and acknowledge concerns they may have. I also add that my own family has gotten vaccinated as well.

“As a pregnant patient myself,” continues Dr. Monga, “I understand the importance of getting vaccinated to protect me, the community and my baby. My obstetrician strongly recommends vaccination because she believes pregnant patients are more likely to get a COVID-related illness if they are exposed to the virus.”

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Patient Perspective Tagged With: COVID-19, physician-patient communication, vaccinationIssue: May 2021

You Might Also Like:
  • Coronavirus Vaccination Assistance
  • COVID-19 Vaccination for Immunosuppressed Patients: From Guidance to Advocacy
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Strategies Suggested for Patients on Anti-Rheumatic Immunosuppressive Therapy
  • Shingles Vaccination Not at Goal Levels for U.S. Seniors

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)