A COVID-19 Decision aid has been developed to help people make an informed decision about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The tool provides evidence-based information about both the disease and the vaccines and, through five simple steps, helps people weigh up the risks and benefits of vaccination.
The aid is aimed at people who have questions about the vaccines and those who are unsure, hesitant or waiting. It covers the COVID-19 vaccines currently available in Australia.
Healthcare providers can also use this tool during consultations with patients to support discussions about COVID-19 vaccination.
The tool has been developed by Dr Jane Frawley from the University of Technology Sydney and a group of public health researchers, social scientists and clinicians using the best available research about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. It has been reviewed by technical staff at NCIRS and will be updated as new evidence becomes available.
"Decision aids are resources that help people make complex medical decisions. They compare the risks associated with getting the disease with the risks associated with the vaccine side-by-side. Discussing risk is important, especially with people who are reluctant to vaccinate. The person can then see how the risks stack up, then think about their values and preferences. This helps people make decisions based on evidence and is a good way to answer lingering questions people still have about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines," Dr Frawley said.
