Pediatricians try new tactics to win over vaccine-skeptical parents

In pediatricians’ offices across the country, doctors are increasingly confronting parents’ concerns about vaccines that for decades have protected children against serious, sometimes fatal, illnesses.

Vaccine hesitancy is nothing new. But doctors say that skepticism has gained new momentum in recent years, as misinformation about vaccines becomes more widespread on social media and more Americans distrust the medical establishment.

The New York Times spoke with pediatricians across the country who said they are looking for better ways to address these concerns and ultimately get more children vaccinated. Some have focused on explaining the immediate risks of forgoing specific vaccines or have begun sharing nongovernmental resources that parents are more likely to trust. Others are now scheduling additional appointments into their already busy days to continue these difficult conversations.

“There are times when I tell them, ‘I’d like to bring you back to talk more about this,’ and I schedule a visit specifically to talk about what they’re concerned about,” said Dr. Marina Jeffery, a family medicine physician in Monroe, Louisiana.

Dr. Jeffery and others said that despite increased vaccine hesitancy, they have managed to allay fears and many skeptical parents continue to vaccinate their children.

Getting parents to this point “requires a lot of listening,” said Dr. Percy Huggins, a pediatrician at TriBeCa Pediatrics in Brooklyn. “But it’s so rewarding to see the change happen and them trust you to come up with a plan for their child.”