Dr. Castrucci joined us to discuss his evolving collaborations with noted Republican pollster Frank Luntz, an expert who is a “master class in communications.” Through a series of surveys and focus groups, they have teamed up to understand how best to engage conservative Republican voters who refuse or are otherwise deeply resistant to getting vaccinated against Sars-CoV-2. “Covid has been politicized since day one” and the question now is how to “change the conversation.” “If this is a political debate, we all lose.” What is the solution? Every health provider has to make engagement with patients on the vaccine a routine part of every patient’s visit. “Good stories and good facts” is “our formula, ” which can educate versus indoctrinate. Give people the facts, and they will “change hearts and minds.” 

Dr. Brian Castrucci is the President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, based in Bethesda, Maryland.