Vaccine Confidence Training
Inform to Empower: Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence One Conversation at a Time
Welcome to Inform to Empower: Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence One Conversation at a Time. ACOG is proud to present this COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Training for obstetricians, gynecologists, and women’s healthcare clinicians! We thank you for making the time to learn more about the importance of increasing your patients’ vaccine confidence and demand—and techniques to apply in your practice. The decision to get vaccinated will greatly reduce your patients’ chances of severe COVID-19 illness or death and having pregnancy complications from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Education
COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Training
Access ACOG's six-part online training series to learn more about the importance of increasing your patients' vaccine confidence and demand—and techniques to apply in your practice.
Training Tool Kit
Access the below tools and resources to supplement your learning in each module.
Module 1: Introduction to ACOG’s COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Training
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- COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for Obstetric-Gynecologic Care is an ACOG Practice Advisory developed by the ACOG Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Expert Work Group
- COVID-19 FAQs for Obstetrician-Gynecologists, Obstetrics is a list of FAQs developed by several ACOG Task Forces made up of experts in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, gynecology, gynecologic subspecialties, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, infectious disease, hospital systems, telehealth, and ethics
- ACOG President J. Martin Tucker: Pregnancy and the COVID-19 Vaccines (video) shares current COVID-19 health risks for pregnant and nonpregnant women, and urges ACOG leaders to join ACOG’s COVID-19 Vaccine Champion Network
- COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding (CDC) details important information on COVID-19 vaccine safety, effectiveness, and recommendations for pregnant people
- COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19 (CDC) details about a health alert issued by the CDC on September 29, 2021, that strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy
- Report of Health Care Provider Recommendation for COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adults, by Recipient COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Attitudes (CDC) Evidence has shown that adults who reported a provider recommendation were more likely to view vaccines as safe and become vaccinated
- Vaccines and Pregnancy: 8 Things You Need to Know (CDC) outlines all the vaccines pregnant women should have, including timing and safety information for each
- CDC COVID Data Tracker lists the number of reported cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from the COVID-19 virus daily
- COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy webinar presents the critical role Ob-gyns and clinicians play in the COVID-19 pandemic response, including the efforts to increase vaccination rates among pregnant individuals
- COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Conversation Guide offers key recommendations and messaging for clinicians
- COVID-19 Multilingual Resource Hub (UCLA) is a collection of online links and materials to help equip our diverse language communities with important information about COVID-19 in 60 languages
- Social media posts to share with your peers to help increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines
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- Email template you can customize and share with your patients to encourage them to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and reasoning behind that guidance
- COVID-19 in Pregnancy Social Media Tool Kit to share the facts about COVID-19 and pregnancy
- Safety and Fertility Facts (infographic) provides details about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, how antibodies from breastmilk may pass through the breastmilk and provide protection to babies, and no effects on fertility from COVID-19 vaccines. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- Things to know after you get a COVID-19 vaccine (infographic) provides details regarding symptoms and reactions individuals may experience after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy (infographic) provides details regarding why it is important for pregnant people to get the COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of getting vaccinated. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- COVID-19, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding: Answers From Ob-Gyns details key points about risk, safety, and effectiveness for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
- COVID-19 Vaccine Facts (infographic) provides six facts about COVID-19 vaccines safety, effectiveness, and availability to help patients make informed-decisions about vaccination. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
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- COVID-19 Risks in Pregnancy (video) 30-second public service announcement describing COVID-19 risks in pregnancy
- COVID-19 FAQs for Obstetrician-Gynecologists, Obstetrics, lists frequently asked questions (FAQs) developed by several ACOG Task Forces made up of experts in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, gynecology, gynecologic subspecialties, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, infectious disease, hospital systems, telehealth, and ethics
- Update on Characteristics of Symptomatic Women of Reproductive Age with Laboratory-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Pregnancy Status (CDC): This analysis found that intensive care unit admission, invasive ventilation, and death were more likely in pregnant women than in nonpregnant women
- Risk for Stillbirth Among Women with and without COVID-19 at Delivery Hospitalization (CDC): Among 1,249,634 delivery hospitalizations in the United States from March 2020–September 2021, women with COVID-19 were at increased risk for stillbirth
- Receipt of COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy and Preterm or Small-for-Gestational-Age at Birth (CDC): Eight Integrated Health Care Organizations, United States, December 15, 2020–July 22, 2021 shows vaccination safety during every trimester of pregnancy
- COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for Obstetric–Gynecologic Care is an ACOG Practice Advisory and was developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ ACOG Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Expert Work Group
- COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding (CDC) includes key points about risk, safety, and effectiveness for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
- Health Equity Considerations and Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups (CDC): The COVID-19 pandemic has unequally affected many racial and ethnic minority groups, putting them more at risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19
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- My Vaccine Choice: How I Decided to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy from a clinician
- Journey of a Vaccine (infographic) that shows how new vaccines are developed, approved, and manufactured
- Your COVID-19 Vaccination Choice while Breastfeeding (flyer) details why there is no need to stop breastfeeding when you get vaccinated
- COVID-19 in Pregnancy Social Media Tool Kit to share the facts about COVID-19 and pregnancy
- Safety and Fertility Facts (infographic) provides details about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, how antibodies from breastmilk may pass through the breastmilk and provide protection to babies, and no effects on fertility from COVID-19 vaccines. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- Things to know after you get a COVID-19 vaccine (infographic) provides details regarding symptoms and reactions individuals may experience after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy (infographic) provides details regarding why it is important for pregnant people to get the COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of getting vaccinated. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- COVID-19 Vaccine Facts (infographic) provides six facts about COVID-19 vaccines safety, effectiveness, and availability to help patients make informed-decisions about vaccination. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
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- COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Conversation Guide provides key recommendations and messaging for clinicians
- How to Tailor COVID-19 Vaccine Information to Your Specific Audience (CDC) shares steps for tailoring COVID-19 vaccine messaging and materials to your specific audience
- Factors that influence vaccination decision-making among pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis (PLOS) examines the strength of the relationships between healthcare professional recommendation and maternal vaccination uptake
- A multi-component, community-based strategy to facilitate COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Latinx populations: From theory to practice (PLOS). This study originates from a community-academic-public health partnership, “Unidos en Salud,” and examines how a culturally tailored and community-based COVID-19 vaccination program increased vaccine uptake among the Latinx community
- Latest Data on COVID-19 Vaccinations by Race/Ethnicity (Kaiser Family Foundation) presents national and state data on COVID-19 vaccinations by race and ethnicity, including booster shot recipients ages 65 and older and children under 12
- Data for Action: Achieving High Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines is a WHO guidebook that describes the Behavioral and Social Drivers of COVID-19 vaccines uptake
- Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Illness and COVID-19 Vaccination among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study during August-December 2020 (National Library of Medicine) presents dominant issues that prevent pregnant people from getting vaccinated, such as concerns about the safety of vaccines for themselves and their pregnancies
- Talking with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination (CDC) presents motivational interviewing techniques such as empathy and collaboration to converse with patients and motivate them to make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccines
- The Ad Council's Hispanic Faith Communities (tool kit) includes messaging strategies and resources for Hispanic faith communities, including social and email graphics, sermons, guides, banners, and videos
- Let’s talk about COVID-19 vaccines (flyer) prompts patients to talk to clinicians about COVID-19 vaccines using commonly asked questions as examples. The conversation prompt can be printed and posted in clinicians’ offices. Download the flyer in color or in black-and-white versions
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- What Mask Should I Wear? (infographic) (The Public Health Communications Collaborative) explains which masks will best protect your patients
- COVID-19 in Pregnancy Social Media Tool Kit to share the facts about COVID-19 and pregnancy
Module 4: Confident Conversations: Leading Effective Vaccine Conversations
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- Talking with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination (CDC) provides an introduction to motivational interviewing for healthcare professionals
- Health Equity in Action (CDC) highlights CDC COVID-19 projects specifically aimed at addressing barriers to health care and health information among refugees, people with disabilities, tribal populations, migrant workers, and many other groups
- How Health Care Providers Should Address Vaccine Hesitancy in the Clinical Setting: Evidence for Presumptive Language in Making a Strong Recommendation (nih.gov): Conversations with patients using presumptive language have been found to be more effective when making strong recommendations compared to participatory language
- Interactive COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations Module for Healthcare Professionals (CDC, tool) developed by the CDC and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help build confidence in COVID-19 vaccination among your patients in any setting
- How to Tailor COVID-19 Vaccine Information to Your Specific Audience (CDC) provides methods to tailor vaccine messaging for specific patient populations, including Black and Hispanic populations
- COVID-19 and Health Equity (video) ACOG President, Dr. J. Martin Tucker, COVID-19 and health equity video statement
- How to talk to your patients about COVID-19 vaccines (infographic) presents the motivational interviewing technique using the OARS acronym to communicate COVID-19 vaccine information with patients. Download flyer in color or black-and-white versions
- Let’s talk about COVID-19 vaccines (flyer) prompts patients to talk to clinicians about COVID-19 vaccines using commonly asked questions as examples. The conversation prompt can be printed and posted in clinicians’ offices. Download flyer in color or black-and-white versions
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Handouts
- Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy (infographic) provides details regarding why it is important for pregnant people to get the COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of getting vaccinated.
- Download flyer in color or black-and-white versions
- Available in Spanish
- Protect yourself and your baby from COVID-19 (CDC, flyer) provides information on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for patients who are pregnant, recently pregnant, breastfeeding, and may be pregnant in the future
- Your COVID-19 Vaccination Choice while Pregnant (flyer) to encourage your pregnant patients to get vaccinated using a clinician testimonial
- Your COVID-19 Vaccination Choice while Breastfeeding (flyer) to encourage your breastfeeding patients to get vaccinated using a clinician testimonial
- Pregnancy/Fertility & COVID-19 Vaccine (Connecticut Department of Public Health, flyer) provides information about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for people who are pregnant or may become pregnant
- COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy: Key Messages (CDC, infographic) provides information on COVID-19 risks during pregnancy, COVID-19 vaccines safety and efficacy, and fertility
- Shareable Graphic: What Mask Should I Wear? (Public Health Collaborative, flyer) explains which masks will protect your patients best
- Safety and Fertility Facts (infographic) provides details about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, how antibodies from breastmilk may pass through the breastmilk and provide protection to babies, and no effects on fertility from COVID-19 vaccines. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- Should I Get Vaccinated (infographic) provides details regarding why it is important for pregnant people to get the COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of getting vaccinated. Download infographic in color and black-and-white versions
- Things to know after you get a COVID-19 vaccine (infographic) provides details regarding symptoms and reactions individuals may experience after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- COVID-19 Vaccine Facts (infographic) provides six facts about COVID-19 vaccines safety, effectiveness, and availability to help patients make informed-decisions about vaccination. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
Resources
- Get Your Recommended COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy (video) describes the relationship between COVID-19, pregnancy, and vaccines
- COVID-19, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding: Answers From Ob-Gyns includes frequently asked questions on COVID-19 and pregnancy, COVID-19 vaccines, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding and newborn care
- Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines to share with patients to provide facts about common COVID-19 vaccine myths
- The Conversation (English) Latinx doctors, nurses, and community health workers provide accessible facts and dispel misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines
- Read La Conversación in Spanish
- Get the Facts Campaign (infographic and public service announcement) provides visually engaging facts about COVID-19 variants and COVID-19 vaccines in over 30 languages
- Translated COVID-19 Materials Library (infographic, video) offers free COVID-19 related graphics, videos, and recordings in over 100 languages
Community Tool Kits
- Black Community Education Tool Kit provides messaging strategies and resources for Black communities, including social and email graphics, banners, and videos
- Black Faith Community Education Tool Kit provides messaging strategies and resources for Black faith communities, including social and email graphics, sermons, guides, banners, and videos
- Hispanic Community Education Tool Kit provides messaging strategies and resources for Hispanic communities, including social and email graphics, banners, and videos
- Hispanic Faith Community Tool Kit provides messaging strategies and resources for Hispanic faith communities, including social and email graphics, sermons, guides, banners, and videos
Social Media Sample Posts
COVID-19 in Pregnancy Social Media Tool Kit to share the facts about COVID-19 and pregnancy
- Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy (infographic) provides details regarding why it is important for pregnant people to get the COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of getting vaccinated.
Module 5: Confident Conversations: Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation
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- A prospective cohort study of COVID-19 vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and fertility (National Library of Medicine) examined the associations of COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection with fertility among couples trying to conceive spontaneously, using data from an internet-based preconception cohort study
- Kaiser Family Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: Media and Misinformation tracks the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations through a combination of surveys and qualitative research
- COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and narratives surrounding Black communities (First Draft) on social media details how widespread mistrust and lack of access to reliable COVID-19 vaccine information on social media have created an environment under which misinformation thrives
- ACOG Statement on Medical Misinformation from ACOG President, Dr. J. Martin Tucker, shares the dangers of health misinformation and the impact it has on patients' health by discouraging many of them from receiving life-saving vaccines
- How to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation (CDC) shares strategies for communicating accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines, responding to gaps in information, and confronting misinformation with evidence-based messaging from credible sources
- Let’s talk about COVID-19 vaccines (flyer) prompts patients to talk to clinicians about COVID-19 vaccines using commonly asked questions as examples. The conversation prompt can be printed and posted in clinicians’ offices. Download the flyer in color or in black-and-white versions
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- Learn how to spot misinformation (Stronger), disinformation, and conspiracy theories about vaccines with this quick guide
- Pregnancy/Fertility & COVID-19 Vaccine (Connecticut Department of Public Health, flyer) dispels the myth regarding COVID-19 vaccines effect on fertility
- Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC) to share with patients to provide facts about common COVID-19 vaccine myths
- COVID-19 in Pregnancy Social Media Tool Kit to share the facts about COVID-19 and pregnancy
Module 6: Confident Conversations: Leading by Example
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- Strategies for Effectively Integrating Immunizations Into Routine Obstetric–Gynecologic Care details four overarching strategies that have been shown to improve immunization processes and ultimately increase immunization rates
- COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Requirements and Support (CDC) provides information on CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine provider agreement, data and reporting requirements, and additional resources for vaccination providers participating in the program
- How to Become a COVID-19 Vaccinator covers topics on preparing to enroll as a COVID-19 vaccinator, obtaining vaccine doses, storing and handling vaccines, reporting vaccines, and billing for the vaccination administration
- New COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Trainings (CDC) provides next steps and tools to enhance your role after becoming a COVID-19 vaccine provider
- Foster Support for Vaccination in Your Practice (CDC) includes information to increase support for vaccination among patients
- Vaccinate with Confidence COVID-19 Vaccines Strategy for Adults (CDC) explores ways you can build trust and create a positive vaccine culture in your community to build vaccine confidence
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- Get Your Recommended Vaccines During Pregnancy (video) that explains the importance of getting recommended vaccines during pregnancy
- Tool kit for Pregnant People and New Parents (CDC) provides resources on COVID-19 vaccines, guidance, and answers to frequently asked questions for patients who are pregnant, recently pregnant, and breastfeeding
- COVID-19, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding: Answers From Ob-Gyns includes frequently asked questions on COVID-19 and pregnancy, COVID-19 vaccines, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding and newborn care
- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and V-safe Pregnancy Registry to encourage your patients to register after choosing COVID-19 vaccination
- COVID-19 in Pregnancy Social Media Tool Kit to share the facts about COVID-19 and pregnancy
- Safety and Fertility Facts (infographic) provides details about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, how antibodies from breastmilk may pass through the breastmilk and provide protection to babies, and no effects on fertility from COVID-19 vaccines. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- Things to know after you get a COVID-19 vaccine (infographic) provides details regarding symptoms and reactions individuals may experience after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy (infographic) provides details regarding why it is important for pregnant people to get the COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of getting vaccinated. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
- COVID-19 Vaccine Facts (infographic) provides six facts about COVID-19 vaccines safety, effectiveness, and availability to help patients make informed-decisions about vaccination. Download infographic in color or black-and-white versions
Training References
Access the complete list of references used to develop this training.
GoThis Resource was supported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a part of a financial assistance award totaling $3,000,000 with 100 percent funded by ACOG and CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.