Speaking to the Toronto Star this week, Dr. Maya Goldenberg, professor in the Department of Philosophy, offered some insight on how to approach conversations about vaccination with family and friends whose views may differ.

“It’s very easy to get frustrated,” she said, noting that discussion may make people defensive. With patience and kindness, Goldenberg said, try not to educate or convince others but instead open a dialogue where concerns can be raised.

Goldenberg, the author of Vaccine Hesitancy: Public Trust, Expertise, and the War on Science, specializes in the philosophy of science and medicine and has long examined why some people become wary of science and hesitant of vaccines.