The latest installment of the #PWChat series was part 2 of a discussion centered around the #ThisIsOurShot campaign, a grassroots movement to elevate the voice of healthcare heroes to build vaccine trust for a COVID-free world, and the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Below are the highlights from the chat. You can read the full transcript here, by scrolling down to the corresponding responses. Access the recap of part 1 here.
Welcome to PART 2 of the #PWChat on the #ThisIsOurShot campaign & the #COVID-19 Vaccine, with co-hosts & @AlexMMTri & @DrLindaMD. Our plan is to go until 8:30pm EST, officially, but let’s keep the convo going well after!
Access the PART 1 recap at https://t.co/XkH4czFExE pic.twitter.com/DM8FUf12aR
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
Alex M. McDonald, MD, CAQSM, FAAFP is co-founder of the #ThisIsOurShot campaign, a family & sports med physician, husband, dad, & former pro triathlete.#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) is a family physician, top-ranked blogger, clinical assistant professor @RWJMS, columnist, & media consultant#PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
Q1. What do you say to patients who distrust the #COVIDvaccine because it was developed “so quickly” or because it “hasn’t been studied enough”? #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot pic.twitter.com/IVVEYyyp04
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
I agree and have received both doses as well. We haven’t seen any safety concerns in now millions of doses of vaccine given.#PWchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
I got tired of adding 15 minutes to every appointment to dispell this misinformation so I created a website to address this. Every room has a poster in it directing patients to the site. Feel free to use it if it would be helpful to you. https://t.co/pAk0NHuhdd
— Michael Melgar, MD (@mmelgar09) February 26, 2021
That’s a really important part we haven’t seen too many saying; that the funding & admin hurdles were lowered, not the safety measures, allowing for faster development & approval#PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
also, b/c covid was so prevalent in the community safety and efficacy trials could be done much faster due to the number of people getting sick from Covid. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
#covidVaccine has been in development for >10yrs, no safety step was skipped, they were just done simultaneously and huge public funding help reduce financial risk to companies so they could start production faster. #NotQuickly just safely #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/opE8opQ4Tf
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
Q2. Do you think the #COVIDvaccine will end this pandemic? If so, how long will it take? #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot pic.twitter.com/Q9NLovpU2c
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
I am hopeful that the vaccine is the answer if we all do our part to get it and wear a mask. #thisisourshot
— Dr. Meadow Maze Good, DO, FACOG (she/her/hers) (@MeadowGood) February 26, 2021
A2. Supported by strong and consistent data, our society is one step closer to restoring our freedoms and peace of mind. This projection is based on the recent encouraging evidence showing vaccination appears to reduce transmission. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot #LearnToVaccinate
— ACCME (@AccreditedCME) February 26, 2021
Dr. Fauci said this week there should be enough #COVIDVaccine available for all Americans to be vaccinated by April, and that enough people actually get the vaccine, herd immunity could be achieved by the end of the summer. Do you see these both happending?#PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
it also depends on how fast we vaccinate and stay ahead of any variant covid strains. hence the reason we need to vaccinate as many people as fast as possible. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
Yes! If a virus can’t replicate or spread, it can’t mutate! Now…where did I hear that? 😊 pic.twitter.com/1J67St7OHQ
— David Epstein, MD, MS, FAAP (@DavidEpsteinMD) February 26, 2021
A2. I think this is the only way out of this. It’s going to take a while but when more doses become available, it should speed up. I predict end of summer/early fall until we see the true impact. #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/rWnJKlf1dv
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
Great points. COVID will be around for a while. #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
A2: The #covidvaccine is it the fastest route between a covid 🦠 filled 🌎➡️ a covid 🙌free 🌎 #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/rEUGk8tA61
— ThisIsOurShot (@ThisIsOurShot) February 26, 2021
In my town, they ran a poll (don’t know how many responded). It showed 84% planned to get vaccinated. #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
Yes, I was rather pleased about that. However, I would like to see a breakdown of the demographics to make sure this represents everyone in the population. #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
Q3. What are some of your go-to strategies for reassuring patients of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine such that they decide to vaccinate? #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot pic.twitter.com/uW3jMao708
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
A3. I’ve received both doses and administered doses as part of Chicago’s medical reserve corps. It is crucial for #HCPs to lead by example and listen to our patients’ concerns so we can most effectively instill confidence to accept the vaccine. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— ACCME (@AccreditedCME) February 26, 2021
Exactly-listen to their concerns and identify areas to plug gaps. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— ACCME (@AccreditedCME) February 26, 2021
A3. I tell them I received the #CovidVaccine myself! I share my story and experience and that I was hesitant at the beginning as well #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/gNN6K8ZDjg
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
Q4. Many people express concern over the uncertainty around short- and long-term side effects of this new #COVIDvaccine. What can we share with them regarding this? #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot pic.twitter.com/zZTWlbH9Hk
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
I think this is a very important point as well: clinicians need to be comfortable talking about the #COVID19Vaccine to patients. #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
A4b. Also this technology has been used for years in other treatment for years, such as cancer, and we have good long term safety data. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
correlation dose not equal causation. I had a pt who sprained their ankle for the covid vaccine also? Was that due to the vaccine also? We have MILLIONS of data points and there is no link b/t vaccination and seizures or whatever. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
To date, no cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome have been reported following vaccination among participants in the mRNA COVID-19. @CDCgov @US_FDA & ACIP do not list hx of GBS as a precaution to vaccination. #Pwchat #thisisourshot @ThisIsOurShot
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
A. We haven’t seen any of these serious complications. Given what we know and how the vaccine functions, we don’t expect any either. #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/1vYQhD5efB
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
Q5. Some Americans are concerned that politics interfered with #COVIDvaccine development and do not trust that the government has their best interests at heart. How do you respond to these concerns? #PWchat #ThisIsOurShot pic.twitter.com/thIBVheyqB
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
A5. Industry, public health infrastructure, and the government have come together to provide a solution for a pandemic that has uprooted our lives. Despite traditional beliefs about the government, we have vaccines available that are working and making a difference. #PWChat
— ACCME (@AccreditedCME) February 26, 2021
A5. I try to leave politics out of the exam room. If anyone says this, I remind them the vaccine was developed by scientists all around the world. It would take a global conspiracy to manipulate a vaccine for whatever reason. #Pwchat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/cGTxH9L1SN
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
Very valid points. Disparities in healthcare only seem to be getting worse. And few are making an effort to address these. #pwchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
A5. sSience doesn’t care about politics & neither does Covid. The career scientists who developed these vaccines did not start w one president or another. Also the process of development & distribution has spanned 2 US presidents #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/baOGmQqMZM
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
Q6: How can clinicians help their patients, particularly the elderly, who are having trouble registering for their shot and finding available vaccines?#PWChat #ThisIsOurShot pic.twitter.com/J2lGOl9RW0
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
A6. This has been frustrating in many areas. I now have my medical student help patients register while they are in the office before they leave. #pwchat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/jqJQVTRHq8
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
A6. Yes, this is very challenging. Right now we have too much demand for supply, but hopefully that will change soon. I tell elderly to ask there grandkids to help! I tell the grandkids to help their grandparents! #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot https://t.co/pTCHJA62SE
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
Very good news. This has been very limiting in who can administer it. #Pwchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
For one, we now have another vaccine option: the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Having more options will help us get patients vaccinated faster. This is so important to prevent mutations. #pwchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
And it’s only 1 dose. #Pwchat #ThisIsOurShot
— Linda Girgis MD (@DrLindaMD) February 26, 2021
There have been several studies showing the #covidVaccine reduce transmission! which is great news! These are difficulty studies due to so many factors…but VERY encouraging! #ThisIsOurShot #PWChat https://t.co/xoUuRvrKqD
— Alex M. McDonald, MD CAQSM FAAFP (@AlexMMTri) February 26, 2021
This Israeli study is very promising, showing the Pfizer #COVIDvaccine greatly reduces virus transmission. #PWChat #ThisIsOurShot
— ACCME (@AccreditedCME) February 26, 2021
We’re officially out of time, but PLEASE, let’s keep this very important discussion going!
In the meantime, we give special thanks to @AlexMMTri & @DrLindaMD for co-hosting and thank you all for joining and providing great insights and thoughts!#PWChat #ThisIsOurShot pic.twitter.com/BaPDW1gQwC
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) February 26, 2021
