Beth C. Natt, MD, MPH, MBA, Medical Director of Pediatrics at Atlantic Health

Vaccine hesitancy in pediatric care requires a shift from confrontational debate to empathetic, shared-goal communication. Dr. Beth Natt, System Medical Director of Pediatrics at Atlantic Health, emphasizes that parents and clinicians both prioritize a child’s well-being, even when they operate from different information sets. Rather than lecturing, clinicians should act as guides, utilizing motivational interviewing to navigate these complex discussions. Supporting the clinician is equally vital; peer-facilitated support groups help manage the frustration and moral distress associated with vaccine refusal. While measuring the direct impact of communication interventions remains difficult, keeping families in care is a critical operational success. Dismissing vaccine-refusing families, a practice that rose to 37% among pediatricians by 2019, lacks evidence of efficacy and disrupts the therapeutic relationship necessary for long-term health outcomes and improved vaccination uptake.