An interesting editorial by Thomson et al. (in Press) was recently published by the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. In that, an international osteopathic research community addresses vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors outline that osteopaths, as health care providers, should inform the decision-making process of their patients regarding COVID-19 vaccination. While the majority of osteopaths seem to support vaccination, a minority remains skeptical due to concerns regarding the fast development of the vaccines and their safety, risks, and harms. This editorial provides information on vaccine hesitancy and encourages osteopaths to be informed advocates of vaccination. In detail, osteopaths should recognize the patient’s fears, address potential misconceptions, and help the patient to make an informed decision. Furthermore, osteopaths might protect their patients by getting vaccinated themselves. In that way, osteopaths might satisfy their social, moral, and professional duty to help reduce the burden of this pandemic.
Thomson, O.P., MacMillan, A., Draper-Rodi, J., Vaucher, P., Ménard, M., Vaughan, B., Morin, C., Alvarez, G., Sampath, K.K., Cerritelli, F., Shaw, R., Cymet, T.C., Bright, P., Hohenschurz-Schmidt, D., Vogel, S., in Press. Opposing Vaccine Hesitancy During the Covid-19 Pandemic – A Critical Commentary and United Statement of an International Osteopathic Research Community. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.
