Miller: Rise in pet vaccine hesitancy cause for alarm
In recent years, vaccine resistance has emerged as a significant concern not only among humans but also in the realm of pet care in the United States. As skepticism towards routine vaccinations grows, veterinarians are witnessing a troubling trend where pet owners are increasingly hesitant to vaccinate their animals. The American Animal Hospital Association and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association provide the standard vaccination guidelines, recommending “core” vaccines such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus for dogs, and rabies and feline leukemia for cats. These vaccines are essential for preventing serious diseases that can also pose risks to humans, particularly zoonotic infections like rabies and leptospirosis. A recent upgrade of the leptospirosis vaccine to “core” status underscores the evolving nature of these recommendations, driven by new data reflecting the disease’s prevalence.
The implications of this vaccine hesitancy extend beyond individual pet health; they pose a risk to public health as well. A 2023 survey revealed that pet owners who distrust human vaccines are significantly more likely to question the safety and necessity of pet vaccinations. Approximately 40% of skeptical dog owners believe vaccines are unsafe, while 30% view them as unnecessary. This skepticism has led to an uptick in cases of diseases previously under control, such as parvovirus and leptospirosis, and has created a challenging environment for veterinarians who must navigate client anger over vaccination policies. Experts attribute this trend to a variety of factors, including the spillover of human vaccine debates, the erosion of trust in institutions, and the spread of misinformation on social media. The vaccine-hesitant population is distinct from outright anti-vaxxers; they are often undecided and can be engaged through respectful dialogue.
Veterinarians are adapting their communication strategies to address these challenges, focusing on building relationships with pet owners and providing clear, empathetic responses to their concerns. They emphasize the importance of informed decision-making, encouraging pet owners to understand which vaccines are essential and the benefits they provide. The potential consequences of declining vaccination rates are serious, as it could lead to outbreaks of diseases like rabies and leptospirosis, jeopardizing not only pet health but also the safety of humans in the community. Furthermore, the political ramifications of vaccine resistance could threaten existing laws requiring rabies vaccinations for pets. As highlighted by veterinary epidemiologist Dr. Audrey Ruple, the lack of reliable national data on pet vaccination rates means that any decline may only be evident through the emergence of outbreaks. Ultimately, the growing resistance to pet vaccinations reflects a broader crisis of trust in science and medicine, underscoring the critical need for proactive measures to protect both pets and their human companions from preventable diseases. Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to safeguard our pets and, by extension, our families and communities.
Vaccine resistance in the United States isn’t limited to people. Alongside skepticism toward routine childhood and some adult vaccines, veterinarians are seeing the same hesitation spread to pets. What was once a routine part of preventive care has become a fraught interaction — and the implications extend well beyond animal health.
The American Animal Hospital Association and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association issue the nation’s standard vaccination guidelines. “Core” vaccines — rabies, distemper, and parvovirus for dogs; rabies and feline leukemia for cats — are recommended for nearly all animals. “Non-core” vaccines depend on a pet’s lifestyle and geography.
These recommendations evolve as data and experience accumulate. The vaccine for leptospirosis, a potentially fatal bacterial infection, was recently upgraded to “core” status after the disease proved to be more widespread than previously believed.
The reasoning is simple: Vaccinate your pet, protect it from a serious disease — and by extension, protect yourself from infections like rabies, leptospirosis and other “zoonotic” infections that can spread from pets to people.
No medical intervention is entirely without risk, but adverse reactions to pet vaccines are rare and usually mild. A significant study found side effects in about 0.2% of dogs — two per 1,000 vaccinations. The most common effects were brief soreness or swelling. Serious events, such as allergic reactions or injection-site cancers in cats, occur in one in 10,000 to 30,000 cases — far rarer than the deadly diseases vaccines prevent.
Even indoor pets aren’t immune to risk. Cats may encounter rodents; dogs can be exposed through backyard wildlife or owners’ shoes. Vaccination not only protects individual animals but also contributes to community-level protection across the broader pet population.
Until recently, few owners questioned their veterinarian’s recommendations. Now, some refuse core vaccines or accuse clinics of profiteering. The trend closely parallels human vaccine skepticism.
A 2023 national survey of 4,000 U.S. pet owners found that people who distrusted human vaccines were far more likely to doubt pet vaccines. Roughly 40% of skeptical owners believed dog vaccines were unsafe; 30% said they were unnecessary. A 2024 follow-up found that one-quarter of dog and cat owners could be classified as vaccine-hesitant.
Veterinarians are again treating diseases they rarely used to see — such as parvovirus in puppies and leptospirosis in unvaccinated dogs — and facing anger from clients who reject vaccination policies.
Researchers cite overlapping causes: spillover from human vaccine debates; erosion of trust in institutions; social-media misinformation; misperceived disease risk; exaggerated fear of side effects; and “natural immunity” myths that suggest pets get “too many shots.” Experts stress that the vaccine-hesitant are distinct from hardened anti-vaxxers: They’re undecided and often reachable through respectful dialogue.
This isn’t just a veterinary issue. A drop in vaccination could create new reservoirs for rabies or leptospirosis, putting pet owners and clinic staff at risk. Unvaccinated animals that bite humans can force costly, stressful rabies-prevention treatments.
There’s also a political dimension: Most states require rabies shots for pets, and if anti-vaccine sentiment expands, those laws could come under attack — with legal and health consequences for communities.
Veterinarians are adjusting how they communicate. The most effective strategies distinguish outright refusal from genuine ambivalence; build long-term relationships; present precise data on safety and benefit; and respond to fears with empathy rather than dismissal. Clinics are bundling vaccination with wellness visits and using reminders to make prevention easier.
For pet owners, the best approach is informed partnership: to ask which vaccines are core, how often boosters are needed, and what side effects to watch for. Rely on evidence-based sources, not anecdotes. And remember that vaccinating a pet safeguards the family, neighborhood and the wider community.
Veterinary epidemiologist Dr. Audrey Ruple of Virginia Tech warns that the United States lacks reliable national data on pet-vaccination rates — meaning the first clear signal of a decline may be outbreaks. Meanwhile, the same forces that have undermined human vaccination — politicization, misinformation, distrust — are infiltrating veterinary care.
Ultimately, pet-vaccine resistance reflects a deeper malaise: fraying trust in science and medicine. The logic of prevention remains unchanged. Vaccines spare suffering, extend lives, and protect pets and humans. Turning away from them invites the return of diseases that have long been kept at bay.
Our pets depend on us for everything — including protection from invisible threats. Keeping them vaccinated is among the simplest, most powerful acts of affection we can offer.
Henry I. Miller, a physician and molecular biologist, is the Glenn Swogger Distinguished Fellow at the American Council on Science and Health./InsideSources
