The decline in public confidence in vaccines during the pandemic seems to have cast a shadow of mistrust over various aspects of vaccination, including those designed for pets.
A recent study, led by a researcher from the Boston University School of Public Health, highlights the concerning levels of canine vaccine hesitancy (CVH) in the U.S. Published in the journal Vaccine, the study reveals over half (53 percent) of dog owners express some level of skepticism about vaccinating their pets, citing concerns about safety, efficacy, and necessity.
The study found nearly 40 percent of dog owners believe canine vaccines are unsafe, more than 20 percent consider them ineffective, and 30 percent perceive them as medically unnecessary. Most alarmingly, about 37 percent of dog owners believe canine vaccination could cause autism in their pets, despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting this claim.
The study identifies a “vaccine spillover” effect, indicating how individuals who hold negative attitudes toward human vaccines are more likely to exhibit the same skepticism toward pet vaccinations. This alignment of views extends to opposition to policies promoting widespread rabies vaccination in dogs. Such beliefs could have dire public health consequences, as rabies remains a deadly threat globally, with around 59,000 human fatalities annually.
“The vaccine spillover effects that we document in our research underscore the importance of restoring trust in human vaccine safety and efficacy,” says study lead and corresponding author Matt Motta, PhD, assistant professor of health law, policy & management at Boston University’s School of Public Health.
“If non-vaccination were to become more common, our pets, vets, and even our friends and family risk coming into contact with vaccine-preventable diseases,” adds Dr. Motta.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends all dogs receive a core set of vaccines for rabies, distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza, and advises that many dogs receive additional “non-core” inoculations for Lyme disease, Bordetella, and other diseases.
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