Module 3 - Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

This module examines factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy and provides communication strategies to educate clients/patients about vaccines in a respectful and empathetic manner to help overcome vaccine hesitancy.
Mary Koslap-Petraco DNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, FAANP

Clinical Assistant Professor
Stony Brook University School of Nursing
Stony Brook, NY
Nurse Consultant immunize.org
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner House Calls
Massapequa Park, NY  

Dr. Mary Koslap-Petraco is the coordinator for child health at the Suffolk County Department of Health Service in New York, where she is also a primary care provider. Dr. Koslap-Petraco is a clinical assistant professor and preceptor for graduate and undergraduate students at the Stony Brook University School of Nursing. She is a fellow of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), and is the past chair of NAPNAP’s Special Interest Group on Immunizations. Dr. Koslap-Petraco is also a member of the advisory board of the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) and served on the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She continues to be a consultant for the CDC. Dr. Koslap-Petraco is also a member of the Advisory Board of Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases (PKIDS) and is the PKIDS on line Advice Nurse. Additionally, she served on the NYSDOH Upper Respiratory Infection Project. Dr. Koslap-Petraco is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her work. Dr. Koslap-Petraco is widely published and speaks nationally in the area of immunizations. Recent publications include: Koslap-Petraco, M., & Steckel, A. (2009). Local Public Health Response to Vaccine Safety Issues-What Happened in Suffolk County, NY.CDC National Immunization Conference, Dallas, TX. Koslap-Petraco, M. (2009). Hepatitis B-Why is it still a problem for babies? March of Dimes 31st Annual Perinatal Nurses Conference. New York, NY. Koslap-Petraco, M., & Judelsohn, R. (2008). Societal impact of combination vaccines: Experiences of physicians, nurses, and parents. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 22(5). Koslap-Petraco, M., Shub. M., & Judelsohn, R. (2008), Hepatitis A: Disease burden and childhood vaccination strategies in the U.S. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 22(1).

1.
Identify common misconceptions about vaccines and formulate responses to concerns commonly identified by vaccine-hesitant adults