MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDEN
FIGHTING FEAR WITH FACTS MEET FEAR WITH FACTS… Those words echo in my head frequently as we collectively consider the available COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine hesitancy. I woke on December 21, 2020, to a world where two COVID-19 vaccines had been granted emergency use authorization in the United States. Health care workers, those who had been at the frontlines for what seemed like an endless series of excruciating months, were now being offered vaccinations. The start to a way out of the pandemic, I thought—the start to protecting those who had worked to so hard to heal everyone else. Within a few hours, I became aware that later that in day would come “my turn” and there was no question in my mind that I would take “my shot”—to paraphrase Hamilton in the most unlikely of ways. Science and scientists, our colleagues, had miraculously moved from discovery of a new vicious pathogen to vaccines that could prevent its disease in under a year. And so, I lined up for my turn and received my first dose (best sore arm ever!) I was struck by the emotion of the moment. We had all been through so much in 2020; I smiled as I received the shot but admit there were tears too as some of the anguish of the year gone-by flooded out. But…the story of others with whom I work was very different. As I returned to the GI Endoscopy Suite later that day, to the GI practice offices later that week, and as I spoke to my colleagues and to my patients, many expressed concerns about vaccine safety, side effects and so many other issues. Many said they would “wait and see” or “didn’t want to be first” or “had issues.” These concerns were important to hear, as in many cases they come from a deep-seated mistrust in medical trials and inequities in care that have been pervasive and longstanding. Really listening matters. Recognizing the degree of vaccine hesitancy and its underpinnings are critical, but then what to do? Meet Fear with Facts… So many myths to dispel. The ACG has launched a campaign, “#1FACT1 MYTH”—what could be more timely? Look it over and share the information (bit.ly/ACGCOVIDVACCINE). Learn as much as possible about the vaccine trials; find ways to communicate those results in an easily understandable way.
6 | GI.ORG/ACGMAGAZINE
“The value of personal stories is paramount. Sharing our individual stories and perhaps posting photos of our vaccination on social media of “how it went” is invaluable— people are watching...”
One step at a time, one person at a time. Ask each person you see at the end of each encounter, “would you take a COVID-19 vaccine if it were offered to you?” I continue to do that each day—and follow it up with facts if the answer is “no” or “I’m going to wait.” I urge each of you to do this at every contact you have with colleagues, staff, family, and patients. Indeed, the GI societies came together with a joint statement issued in late December 2020 recognizing that control of the pandemic would likely require at least 70 to 80% of the population to be immune, either through natural infection or vaccination, and implored each of our members to serve as a source of accurate information for our patients and our communities. The value of personal stories is paramount. Sharing our individual stories and perhaps posting photos of our vaccination on social media of “how it went” is invaluable—people are watching—and then being armed with correct information so facts about expected side effects in the general population are explained accurately is equally invaluable. The process becomes demystified. I work with a very courageous and brave environmental services worker who stepped forward to be a role model for others who were initially hesitant. She spoke in front of thousands of people to explain why she made her choice to get the vaccine. It was very impactful to those watching. Just the other day, one of our endoscopy technicians approached me after two months of hesitancy and quietly said, “I’m ready.” I walked her down to the vaccination pod immediately. She is now talking to others about her experience. We still have a long way to go. Vaccine hesitancy is real. The available vaccines are over 94% effective and remarkably safe. As I write this, over 40 million people in the U.S. and over 105 million in the world have received at least one dose. One person at a time, one story at a time. It is our collective responsibility to continue the remarkable progress of science and overcome the barriers to achieving mass vaccination throughout this country and throughout the world. Many challenges remain, but we can do it.
MEET FEAR WITH FACTS…
—David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG