Addressing the Vaccine-Hesitant with Dr. Gretchen LaSalle

Gretchen LaSalle, MD FAAFP is a board-certified family physician with a passion for preventative care, from which vaccine advocacy is a natural extension. She is an active writer and public speaker on the topic and, in October 2019, published a book with Wolters Kluwer Press titled Let’s Talk Vaccines: A Clinician’s Guide to Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Saving Lives. In a growing climate of vaccine hesitancy, her primary mission is to keep patients from falling victim to vaccine misinformation and to decrease the frustrations, while increasing the successes, that clinicians have in getting patients vaccinated.

We discuss how to have the most fruitful discussion with the vaccine hesitant. She has a system for addressing these patients and parents and no surprise, it starts with listening. The hesitation comes with all sorts of concerns, from stories they have heard, to potential side-effects, to simply indecision and she has a well thought out discussion for all of these. We get into the cognitive biases that may be at play and end on her experiences on social media with the vaccine averse, who are the vocal majority, but really the minority vs. someone who is simply hesitant.  

She completed her medical school training at the Tulane University School of Medicine and her residency at the Oregon Health and Science University. She has practiced at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic in Spokane, Washington for the last 13 years and serves as a Clinical Associate Professor for the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

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This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.