Communicating about Vaccination with Caregivers and Patients: A Communication Training Module for Health Workers

"HWs [health workers] must have confidence in vaccination themselves in order to build confidence in vaccination with caregivers and patients."



From the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, this document outlines a training module designed to support health workers (HWs) in communicating about vaccination. WHO expects that, at the end of this training, the participant will be able to: take a proactive role as a HW in contributing to vaccine confidence; effectively communicate benefits and risks to support a vaccination decision; identify different perceptions and positions regarding vaccination; respond to concerns about vaccination using motivational interviewing techniques; and facilitate a clear and structured conversation to build confidence in vaccination.



Contents include:

• Part 1: Vaccine confidence and the role of HWs
• Part 2: Discussing benefits and risks of vaccination
• Part 3: Conversation steps to build confidence in vaccination
  • Step 1: Presume vaccination
  • Step 2: Identify perceptions and position
  • Step 3: Respond to position
• Part 4: Applying the steps in conversations with caregivers and patients
• Annex 1: Facilitator guide
• Annex 2: Conversation scenarios