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Abstract
The United States is currently experiencing its worst pertussis outbreak in 50 years. Although pertussis is easily preventable through vaccination, many people are unaware of the severity of the disease and the need for adult booster vaccinations. This study surveyed 629 people using a statewide telephone survey to examine vaccination rates, factors affecting vaccination decisions, and the role of communication with healthcare providers, family, and friends in vaccine decision making. Findings indicate that most participants had not been vaccinated for pertussis in the last 5 years. Furthermore, there are disparate pertussis diagnoses and vaccination rates among adults. The main contribution of this study is the examination of sources of influence on adults’ decisions to receive the Tdap booster. The primary source of influence and vaccine recommendation was healthcare providers. We also found that successful vaccination recommendations were most frequently justified by claims that the booster would protect the participant's personal health, rather than community health or infant health. When discussing the adult Tdap booster with eligible patients, healthcare providers should focus information and recommendations on patients’ health, rather than include messages about benefits to community health or the health of infants they may come in contact with.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Sarah N. Heiss
Sarah N. Heiss, PhD, Ohio University, is an assistant professor in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics at the University of Vermont. Her research explores how communication practices shape and are shaped by how the public makes sense of health risks. Her current projects examine public understandings of health risks within the contexts of raw milk, artesian cheese, and sweeteners. She also uses organizational theories to explore communication practices used by the food industry and in the field of dietetics.
Heather J. Carmack
Heather J. Carmack, PhD, Ohio University, is an assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University. Her research examines the way health publics talk about patient safety issues. Her current projects involve studying the impact of hospital policies and education curricula on communication about medical errors as well as communication strategies to increase vaccine literacy and vaccination practices. She also examines the role of communication about grief and loss.
Amy E. Chadwick
Amy E. Chadwick, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University, is an assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University. Her research focuses on the use of communication messages to change attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to health and environmental issues. She is particularly interested in how positive emotions, such as hope, can be used to promote pro-social change in a variety of contexts. Her current projects examine the factors predicting climate protection behaviors and advance care planning conversations as well as messages to affect these behaviors.