Why vaccine hesitancy feels harder in veterinary medicine

Vaccine hesitancy is becoming a more visible challenge in companion animal practice, and recent veterinary podcast discussions from Clinician’s Brief and Veterinary Viewfinder reflect how much harder those conversations feel in exam rooms now. The broader research base backs that up: a 2023 national survey found that attitudes toward human and pet vaccines are closely linked, and a separate 2024 study using an adapted vaccine hesitancy survey found roughly 21.7% of dog pet parents and 25.9% of cat pet parents could be classified as vaccine hesitant. At the same time, most pet parents still report vaccinating according to veterinary recommendations, suggesting the issue is less about blanket refusal than growing uncertainty, safety concerns, and mistrust that teams are being asked to navigate in real time. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is increasingly a communication and workflow issue as much as a medical one. AAHA and AVMA-linked resources emphasize that hesitancy often centers on fears of over-vaccination, adverse events, or low perceived risk, which means strong recommendations alone may not be enough. Research and expert commentary suggest clinics do better when they pair evidence with empathy, tailor risk discussions to the individual patient, and use long-term veterinarian-client relationships to build trust over time. (aaha.org)

What to watch: Expect more attention on practical communication tools, validated ways to measure pet parent hesitancy, and whether clinics can translate trust in the care team into better vaccine uptake without deepening conflict. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)