Exercise: The difficult vaccine consultation

You are in a routine clinic.

You are running late.

For the past 2 weeks, social media posts about serious vaccine side effects have circulated locally. No clear briefing has reached your service.

A parent arrives with a 2-year-old child. They say:

“I’ve seen children collapse after this vaccine.

Doctors said things were safe before too.

If my child is harmed — who is responsible?”

They show a video.

They start recording the consultation.

Please, reflect about the information and right down the answers for the following questions.

There are no right or wrong answers.

  1. What emotions does this consultation trigger in you?
  2. What would your instinctive response be?
  3. Would you pause or take any step before replying?
  4. After the consultation, would you take any action — personally or professionally?