21. Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy

Dr. Judy Monroe hosts Dr. Atul Nakhasi and Dr. Elizabeth Homan Sandoval, frontline doctors working on the COVID-19 response, in a discussion about how vaccine hesitancy continues to be a challenge in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the power of spreading culturally competent information using trusted voices in our communities.

Dr. Nakhasi serves as an advisor to the office of government affairs and policy for the LA County Department of Health Services and is the co-founder of ThisIsOurShot, the country’s leading vaccine trust movement by frontline healthcare workers. Dr. Homan Sandoval is a psychiatrist working with children and teens and also focuses on educating and empowering the Latinx community to get vaccinated and highlighting ways to combat healthcare disparities.

For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations.

Key Takeaways:

[1:54] Dr. Nakhasi shares how COVID-19 changed the work that he does as a doctor.

[3:37] Dr. Homan Sandoval talks about how her work with children and teens changed as a result of the emergence of COVID-19.

[7:30] Dr. Nakhasi talks about some of the reasons he is hearing from patients in regards to why they are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

[9:15] Dr. Homan Sandoval shares how she has experienced vaccine hesitancy in her work.

[10:54] Dr. Nakhasi shares his memories of the early days of the pandemic.

[13:19] Dr. Homan Sandoval shares her personal experience navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and how the pandemic has impacted children and teens and their care.

[19:05] How can we help the unvaccinated populations?

[24:50] Dr. Nakhasi talks about the #ThisIsOurShot campaign.

[27:33] Dr. Homan Sandoval talks about the #VacunateYa campaign, which focuses on sharing important health information with the Latinx community.

[29:46] Dr. Nakhasi shares three key lessons to help other medical and public health leaders share trusted information, particularly about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mentioned in This Episode: