Words to Watch
Est. 3-minute read
Sometimes, a single word can make the difference between a conversation that goes well and one that goes astray.
Toolkit
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
Anti-vaccine, anti-vaxx, anti-vaxxers
People who have absorbed misinformation about vaccines
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
Fight off the virus, our battle against the virus
Equip the immune system to recognize and resist 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
Herd immunity
Community immunity, protecting the whole network
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
Natural immunity
The body’s immune system
Why?
The word “natural” might spark or reinforce concerns about vaccines being an “artificial” substance.
Vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine confidence
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.”
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