U.S. and international health authorities, veterinary associations and a peer-reviewed survey now document a measurable rise in skepticism toward routine vaccinations for companion animals, a phenomenon researchers call canine vaccine hesitancy (CVH). A nationally representative study of 2,200 U.S. dog owners published in the journal Vaccine found that more than half expressed some level of hesitancy about vaccinating dogs and that concerns about safety, efficacy and necessity were common. The same study linked negative attitudes about human vaccines to negative views about pet immunization, suggesting a “spillover” of mistrust from human to animal health. ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37640567/?utm_source=openai))
Study findings and limits
The Vaccine article introduced a survey instrument to measure CVH and reported that nearly 40% of respondents viewed canine vaccines as unsafe, about 20% questioned their efficacy and roughly 30% considered them medically unnecessary. The authors also reported an association between vaccine-hesitant attitudes and self-reported failure to keep rabies shots current, and resistance to public-health policies that encourage universal rabies vaccination. The study is survey-based and relies on self-reporting, which the authors acknowledge can introduce recall or social-desirability bias; it is a first step to quantify a trend veterinarians had observed anecdotally. ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37640567/?utm_source=openai))
What core vaccines protect against and professional guidance
Veterinary authorities categorize a set of “core” vaccines that protect pets against diseases that are highly contagious, severe or pose a risk to people. For dogs, core vaccines typically include distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and rabies; for cats, core vaccines include panleukopenia, calicivirus, herpesvirus and rabies. These guidelines are based on decades of clinical and field evidence showing long-term reductions in disease, hospitalization and death when populations maintain high vaccination coverage. The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association advise individualized vaccination schedules but stress that core vaccines are essential for population and individual health. ([aaha.org](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/recommendations-for-core-and-noncore-canine-vaccines/?utm_source=openai))
Evidence of preventable outbreaks and occupational risk
Where vaccination lapses occur, outbreaks follow. Shelters and rescue organizations document repeated episodes of parvovirus and panleukopenia—highly contagious viral infections that can cause severe gastrointestinal disease and death in puppies and kittens—linked to inadequate vaccination or gaps in intake protocols. Field investigations and shelter-medicine reports show that prompt vaccination on intake and improved quarantine practices stop transmission and save lives, underscoring vaccines’ role in outbreak control. In addition, veterinarians, shelter staff and animal-control workers face occupational exposure risks when animals are unvaccinated, particularly for zoonotic threats such as rabies. ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9708443/?utm_source=openai))
Public-health implications
Rabies remains a fatal zoonotic disease preventable by animal vaccination and public-health measures; the World Health Organization estimates roughly 59,000 human deaths annually worldwide are attributable to dog-mediated rabies. Maintaining high dog vaccination coverage is central to preventing human cases and achieving the global “Zero by 30” goal for dog-mediated human rabies deaths. A localized decline in pet vaccination therefore has implications beyond individual animals: it increases outbreak risk in animal populations, raises human exposure incidents, and can strain public-health and veterinary resources. This matters because pet vaccination is a practical, evidence-based tool that protects animal welfare and human health alike. ([who.int](https://www.who.int/southeastasia/health-topics/rabies?utm_source=openai))
Why owners resist and what the evidence says about harms
Research and veterinary organizations point to several drivers of pet-vaccine hesitancy: misinformation amplified online and through social networks, a perception that formerly common diseases are now rare (so vaccination seems unnecessary), concerns about adverse events, and spillover mistrust originating in debates over human vaccines. Claims that routine animal vaccines cause conditions such as autism have no scientific basis; controlled studies and veterinary surveillance show that serious adverse reactions are rare, and professional guidance recommends tailoring schedules to patient risk while recognizing that the benefits generally far outweigh risks. Veterinarians are encouraged to address client concerns with clear, empathetic, evidence-based explanations and to use serologic testing where appropriate to assess immunity. ([bu.edu](https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2023/nearly-half-of-dog-owners-are-hesitant-to-vaccinate-their-pets/?utm_source=openai))
Expert perspectives and policy responses
Public-health researchers who studied CVH warn that declining confidence could undermine established animal-health policies such as state and local rabies vaccination requirements. Veterinary organizations emphasize communication strategies that respect owners’ questions while explaining disease risks and legal obligations. Several jurisdictions and animal-welfare groups have responded to recent parvovirus and panleukopenia clusters by expanding low-cost or free community vaccination clinics and shelter-on-intake vaccination programs—measures that both reduce disease and lower access barriers. ([bu.edu](https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2023/nearly-half-of-dog-owners-are-hesitant-to-vaccinate-their-pets/?utm_source=openai))
Practical steps for owners and clinicians
For pet owners: consult your veterinarian about a vaccination plan tailored to your pet’s age, health and lifestyle; ask about vaccine schedules, expected side effects and whether titers (blood tests that measure antibodies) can guide booster timing. For clinicians and public-health officials: prioritize clear, evidence-based outreach; offer low-cost clinics in communities with access barriers; and track vaccine uptake to identify gaps. These measures help preserve herd immunity in pet populations and protect human health. ([aaha.org](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/recommendations-for-core-and-noncore-canine-vaccines/?utm_source=openai))
Read more on Globally Pulse Health for ongoing coverage of vaccination, zoonoses and One Health policy.
Authoritative sources consulted include the Vaccine study on canine vaccine hesitancy, the World Health Organization on rabies burden and elimination strategy, the CDC/National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians compendium on animal rabies prevention, and AAHA/AVMA vaccination guidelines for companion animals. These sources provide the evidence base for veterinary recommendations and the public-health rationale for maintaining routine pet immunizations. ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37640567/?utm_source=openai))
