How to Get Shots into Arms this Year: Patience, Persistence, and Don't Take it Personally

Patient Care asked Steven Furr, MD, president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians, to offer 3 pointers to primary care health care professionals on how to approach vaccination in their most vaccine-weary patients this year.

The 2023-2024 respiratory virus season is underway and in addition to the annual flu shot, primary care clinicians will be encouraging all their patients to offer an arm for the new seasonal COVID-19 vaccine (don't call it a booster...) and to those who are eligible, the new vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus. Dr Furr's pointers follow here.

Steven Furr, MD, president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians, is a family physician in Jackson, AL, where he co-founded Family Medical Clinic of Jackson. Furr has cared for patients for more than 35 years, including providing obstetrics care for more than 25 years. He is a certified medical director, as well as a certified medical examiner. He is also an adjunct professor with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, AL.