THE LAST WORD
The Vaccine Dilemma
In this short poem, a physician processes the dilemma of caring for patients who won’t take advice when it comes to vaccination.
Fam Pract Manag. 2022 Jan-Feb;29(1):36A.
Author disclosure: no relevant financial relationships.
Patients I have known for many years
Have treated them and their families
We have bonded in what is a true "patient-doctor" relationship
Here is my dilemma —
I have asked myself often
How should I feel when my patients say they will not get the vaccine?
I pause to think
I feel helplessness
I feel frustration
I do not feel anger or dislike
I tell them my thoughts and evidence-based belief
I try my best to convince them
And then … I let it go ...
As I drive home
A thought stays with me:
Do I stop feeling affection for the patient?
No! I cannot do that
I am sure my colleagues feel this way
We are all helpless
We have no solution
Just want these difficult days to pass.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FPM or our publisher, the American Academy of Family Physicians. We encourage you to share your views. Send comments to fpmedit@aafp.org, or add your comments below.
Copyright © 2022 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact
fpmserv@aafp.org for copyright questions and/or permission requests.
Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions
CME Quiz
More in FPM
Related Articles
Editor's Collections
Related Topic Searches
More in Pubmed
MOST RECENT ISSUE
FPM E-Newsletter
Sign up to receive FPM's free, weekly e-newsletter, "Quick Tips & Insights."
LATEST AAFP SUPPLEMENTS
Measuring What Matters in Primary Care: Implementing the Person-Centered Primary Care Measure
Learn how family physicians are using the person-centered primary care measure and get tips for how to implement it in your practice.
Improving Adult Immunization Rates Within Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities
Part one of this two-part supplement series highlights QI processes to reduce vaccine disparities, identifies recommended adult vaccines, and discusses their importance among racial and ethnic minority communities.
