Words to Watch (Est. 3 min read)

Use this short list of words to replace (and alternatives to embrace) to develop a vaccine vocabulary that inoculates against misunderstandings and distractions.

Anti-vaccine, anti-vaxx, anti-vaxxers

Why?

• Person-first language is more respectful. 
• Pointing to the cause (misinformation) is more effective than pointing to the symptom (anti-vaccine attitudes).

Fight off the virus, our battle against the virus

Why?

• When people think about the vaccine as a shield or weapon, they assume that breakthrough infections mean that the vaccine failed.

Herd immunity

Why?

• People don’t like to think of themselves as part of a “herd."
• When things rhyme, people are more likely to believe and remember them.
• Comparing society to a computer network helps people think about ‘virus protection’ in a positive way.

Natural immunity

Why?

The word “natural” might spark or reinforce concerns about vaccines being an “artificial” substance.

Vaccine hesitancy

Why?

We are more effective communicators when we focus on what we want, rather than on what we don’t want.

Bonus:

While there’s no reason to avoid the word “vaccine” altogether, it is helpful to focus on the immune system’s response more than the vaccine itself. In situations where many people are not yet confident in the COVID-19 vaccine, talk more about “immunization” or “equipping children’s immune systems to recognize and resist the virus.”