"Let's be superheroes."

[Aristus]

That was the phrase that finally convinced a patient on Friday to get his flu vaccine.

I've had a lot of patients lately decline the vaccine without even trying any of the internet conspiracy theorist-approved objections, like the flu vaccine gives you the flu, or it's a Big Pharma plot, or what have you.

Most simply offer the disappointingly lazy "I just don't want to..."

I offered the usual evidence-based rebuttals to whatever his objection might have been. Then got to the notion of herd immunity, and our responsibility to protect those who are unable, for whatever reasons, to get immunized.

"Let's protect them", I said. "Let's be superheroes."

He consented to immunization.

I gotta remember that phrase...

[gristy]

1. Nice story. And good job.

[Aristus]

2. Thank you.

I wish I could claim that there was some crafty calculus behind that argument. But there wasn't. It was a spur-of-the-moment instinct. I've had several of those lately that led to success with a patient. I'm grateful for those instincts, because training, knowledge, and experience sometimes aren't enough.