Toronto Epidemiologist Explains How To Talk With Anti-Vaxxers In A Series Of Tweets
An epidemiologist at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health has gone viral after posting a helpful Twitter thread for anyone who has to talk with "vaccine-hesitant people."
The COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Canada next week, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and there has been plenty of online discussion about it.
Dr. Maria Sundaram, the epidemiologist in question, tweeted out advice for understanding and communicating with people who are nervous about or opposed to the vaccine.
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Dr. Sundaram recommends people start from a position of empathy — recognizing the other person's fears and concerns about vaccines and interacting with them on a human level.
"Being a real person can also help establish common ground," she writes.
"If you both have kids, great! If you both love the same musical artist, great! If you both are sick of being cooped up, great! Commiseration is a balm."
Dr. Sundaram says it's important to directly address their concerns and not pretend to know the answer to every question they may have.
And being funny can help, as long as you're laughing together and not at someone's expense.
Dr. Sundaram says you shouldn't try and convince someone who's already made their mind up: "Be kind & let it go," she writes.
The original tweet in the thread has well over 4,000 retweets and over 13,000 likes — a reaction which Dr. Sundaram calls "crazy."
"Obviously I didn't expect it to be this big. I'm super gratified that some people out there find it helpful, and I hope it continues to be helpful," she told Narcity via Twitter.
*This story has been updated.