Vaccine-hesitant woman at booking — communication and counselling station

Communication and counselling station: a vaccine-hesitant pregnant woman with a supportive but similarly concerned family member. Tests knowledge of the recommended and contraindicated vaccines, motivational interviewing and the trusted-provider approach, evidence-based reassurance, and the documentation of a decision. Includes assessor key and marking domains.

Prompt

A 27-year-old woman attends her booking visit at 12 weeks gestation. She is well. When you discuss vaccination, she says she has 'heard vaccines are unsafe in pregnancy' and is leaning against them. Her sister, who is present, shares the concern. You are the registrar; the consultant is available.

Station brief

Format. Communication and counselling station, approximately 12 minutes. You are the antenatal clinic registrar. The assessor plays the woman and her sister. The consultant is available. ^[4]

Candidate instruction. Conduct the vaccination conversation. Explore her concerns without dismissing them, explain the recommended and contraindicated vaccines with the evidence, support an informed decision, and set a clear plan. Document the discussion. ^[4]

References3Show

[2]Dabrera G, Amirthalingam G, Andrews N, et al. A case-control study to estimate the effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination in protecting newborn infants in England and Wales, 2012-2013 Clin Infect Dis, 2015.PMID 25332078
[3]Kampmann B, Madhi SA, Munjal I, et al. Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine in Pregnancy to Prevent RSV Illness in Infants N Engl J Med, 2023.PMID 37018474
[4]American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG Committee Opinion No. 741: Maternal Immunization Obstet Gynecol, 2018.PMID 29794683

Vaccine-hesitant woman at booking — communication and counselling station

Station brief

Format. Communication and counselling station, approximately 12 minutes. You are the antenatal clinic registrar. The assessor plays the woman and her sister. The consultant is available. ^[4]

References3Show

[2]Dabrera G, Amirthalingam G, Andrews N, et al. A case-control study to estimate the effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination in protecting newborn infants in England and Wales, 2012-2013 Clin Infect Dis, 2015.PMID 25332078
[3]Kampmann B, Madhi SA, Munjal I, et al. Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine in Pregnancy to Prevent RSV Illness in Infants N Engl J Med, 2023.PMID 37018474
[4]American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG Committee Opinion No. 741: Maternal Immunization Obstet Gynecol, 2018.PMID 29794683