OHIO — Whether Ohioans are choosing to get the coronavirus vaccine or not, nearly everyone has an opinion on it. 

What You Need To Know

  • Jennifer Walton, a professor of communication at Ohio Northern University, said it’s important not to assume everyone has the same opinion on the coronavirus vaccine as you do

  • Walton said don’t attack and don’t have a judgmental tone during conversations about the vaccine
  • She said if conversations about the vaccine go off the rails bring it back to a safer topic

Jennifer Walton, a professor of communication at Ohio Northern University, explains why.

“It's very simplistic the way we organize our attitudes,” Walton said. “Then you have perception and prior experience.”

That’s why she said it’s important not to assume everyone shares the same beliefs as you and to know how to discuss differences with kindness.

“Practice compassionate curiosity. Ask very politely, ‘how do you feel the way that you do?’ Don’t attack, don’t have a judgmental tone.”

As for friends and family members that may believe in vaccine conspiracy theories, she said you likely won’t have to worry about it coming up in conversation.     

“For the most part, they are only talking to the people who agree with them about that," she said. “So when you have dinner with them or you hang out or you have a conversation and they know that you’re not part of that conspiracy theory group, chances are they are going to go back to their real self."

And if those conversations are brought up, she suggests finding a way to retreat. 

“If things start to go off the rails bring it back to a safer topic,” Walton said.

When it comes to social media, Walton suggests muting or hiding friends or family members with upsetting posts, rather than unfollowing them.​

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