Table 1.

Communication strategies to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in cancer survivors

Communication strategies for addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among cancer survivors
Assess and communicate risk	• Assess cancer survivors’ risk perceptions to understand likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination uptake. • Pair messages about increased risk of COVID-19 complications with messages about the effectiveness and availability of vaccines.
Establish positive social norms and utilize peer models	• Recruit cancer survivors to serve as vaccine advocates and promote vaccination among their peers. • Create messages that (1) highlight the large number of cancer survivors who have already received the vaccine and (2) showcase the stories of survivors who have made the decision to vaccinate.
Apply patient-centered communication approaches	• Improve the trustworthiness, quality, and consistency of provider communication regarding COVID-19 vaccines. • Use patient-centered communication approaches, such as motivational interviewing, to understand survivors’ vaccination concerns and increase their engagement in care. • Communicate availability of onsite vaccination or facilitate vaccine appointments at other vaccine locations. • Encourage all providers who see individuals with a cancer history to assess their vaccine status and promote vaccination for both cancer survivors and their caregivers.
Leverage technology	• Use digital tools, such as web-based decision aids, to help individuals understand the benefits and risks of vaccination.
Address health misinformation	• Help cancer survivors and their caregivers more easily assess the credibility of health information they find online and avoid unreliable sources through digital literacy efforts and “information prescriptions” to high quality resources.