Vaccine hesitancy amongst pet owners is on the rise – a public health expert explains why it's vital

When most individuals consider vaccines, they typically think of individuals: experts warn that leaving many individuals unvaccinated can have serious consequences disease outbreaks And higher morbidity and mortality ratesespecially amongst essentially the most vulnerable. The economic costs for society can be significant.

However, vaccinations also provide vital protection for our non-human companions, including essentially the most common pets: dogs and cats.

But as my research published in 2024 within the American Journal of Veterinary Research and Vaccine magazine points out that there may be vaccine skepticism begin to affect some people's decisions about whether or not they must have their pets vaccinated.

Vaccines and pets

Numerous studies have confirmed this Vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are protected for most individuals. But vaccines were never generally accepteddating back to the primary vaccinations against smallpox. Vaccination skepticism or concerns about vaccination have only increased within the wake of vaccination Covid-19 pandemic.

Growing concerns about vaccines have vital implications that go far beyond the person's decision whether or to not get vaccinated.

Vaccines generally work two vital ways. First, they supply direct protection to the vaccinated person by reducing the danger of contracting a disease. They also reduce the Severity of an illness.

Vaccines also provide an indirect type of protection for society at large through a process commonly often known as “herd immunity.” This happens when a high percentage of individuals in a community have developed immunity, ensuring that future outbreaks affect fewer people and are contained quickly.

Of course, humans should not the one species to learn from direct and indirect protection from vaccines. However, up to now there was little or no research on vaccination in non-humans.

My recent work was specifically aimed toward expanding scientific knowledge about dog and cat ownership through using large, national surveys. Many of the outcomes were positive: The overwhelming majority of cats and dogs have received core vaccines that provide protection against rabies and other dangerous diseases. Core vaccines are those vaccinations which are really helpful for all dogs and cats.

In addition, three quarters of pet owners Trust your vet on the subject of vaccines. And even higher percentages were felt discuss confidently If you’ve gotten any concerns about vaccination, contact your veterinarian. you too I understand that many vaccinations are preventable Pet illnesses will be serious.

Pet owners also wanted their neighbors to vaccinate their pets: Most dog and cat owners, greater than 80%, supported vaccination requirements for various core and non-core vaccines.

But other findings also give cause for concern. Most prominently, my study, published in late 2024, identified the next 22% of dog owners and 26% of cat owners as vaccine hesitant towards their pets. And although most pets were vaccinated against common diseases, a minority weren’t. This includes roughly 4% of dogs and 12% of cats that weren’t vaccinated against rabies. For other diseases like Parvovirus and distemperVaccination rates were even lower. The study confirmed similar results my previous study 2023.

In the identical 2024 study, lots of the concerns raised by pet owners mirror those expressed by people: greater than half of pet owners query this Effectiveness of vaccines.

An identical percentage were concerned about it Vaccine safety and unwanted side effects. Many believed that it was higher for pets to contract a disease to achieve immunity than to be vaccinated. About 60% of pet owners believed that pets received too many vaccinations. It is noteworthy that nearly all pet owners preferred to present their pets fewer vaccinations at a time.

Things are moving forward

When people fail to vaccinate their pets, it will probably have a major impact on society.

The most immediate impact will likely be on pet owners. Unvaccinated pets face danger higher risk of illness and death from preventable diseases; Although in some cases vaccines should not completely effective even vaccinated pets will be affected. This can impose significant financial and emotional costs on their owners.

Veterinarians may also be affected. They may encounter pets with illnesses that they could not have expected or have had limited exposure to prior to now. The same applies to other professions that should do with pets. including snow groomers, boarders and hikers.

There are also broader public health implications: Encounters with rabiesIn particular, it may very well be more common. People will be directly affected if bitten by an infected pet. Pets also come into contact with wild animals, which increases the danger of rabies spreading further.

From a public health perspective, low vaccination rates in pets are only as concerning as those in humans. I consider a comprehensive public health strategy is critical to deal with pet owners' growing concerns about vaccines. Such a technique shouldn’t simply dismiss pet owners' concerns as conspiracy theories, but as a substitute take a thoughtful approach that takes the person's specific concerns seriously.