During a system upgrade from Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7, the AAFP website, on-demand courses and CME purchases will be unavailable.
COVID Vaccines: mRNA vs. Non-mRNA for Shared Decisions
Compare mRNA and non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to support shared decisions with patients, including those at higher risk for severe illness.
Family physicians are trusted sources of health information and play a vital role in preventive care. As part of that care, it’s important to recommend COVID-19 vaccination to your eligible patients—especially those with chronic medical conditions or other risk factors for severe infection—at every visit.
One effective way to encourage vaccine uptake is by engaging your patients in shared clinical decision-making. To support these conversations, the American Academy of Family Physicians developed this evidence-based conversation guide to help you educate patients about both non-mRNA and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing their role in preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death.
Benefits of shared decision-making (SDM) include improving physician-patient communication, building trust and enhancing patient satisfaction.
Research has also shown that prioritizing patients’ involvement during visits and encouraging a more active role in decision-making lead to positive health outcomes. Shared decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination involves you and your patient working together to make an informed decision based on the best available evidence.
Both non-mRNA and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe for most people. However, there are a few exceptions:
- Currently available COVID-19 vaccines are not recommended for children younger than 6 months.
- People who have a history of severe allergic reaction after receiving a specific type of COVID-19 vaccine or are allergic to a component of the vaccine should not receive that vaccine type. Signs of severe allergic reaction include:
- Anaphylaxis
- Low blood pressure or rapid heartbeat
- Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
- Widespread skin rash and/or swelling
- Rash inside the mouth or nose
When you are ready to talk with a patient about getting the non-mRNA or mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, consider using the SHARE Approach developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. It involves the following five steps.
Motivational interviewing is a proven technique that you and your practice team can use to help patients make a decision about COVID-19 vaccination that aligns with their values and health goals. It involves answering your patients’ questions, addressing misinformation and reassuring them that both nonmRNA and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. In addition, it helps you emphasize that getting vaccinated protects them, their families and their communities from serious illness, hospitalization or even death.
This content was independently developed by the AAFP with support from Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
Inside Family Medicine Podcast
CME On The GO | COVID-19 Vaccine Champion: Education on Administration and Best Practices
The CME on the Go series of the Inside Family Medicine podcast lets you earn up to 0.5 CME credits per episode — join the hosts as they dive into best practices for COVID-19 vaccine administration, addressing hesitancy, and navigating emotionally charged conversations with patients and healthcare teams. Backed by evidence and personal experience, they offer practical strategies for building trust, improving communication, and reinforcing the importance of vaccination across all populations.