979 - Why Are More People Choosing Not to Vaccinate Their Pets?

Nov 20, 2025

Veterinarians Meghan Davis, a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins, and Kaitlin Waite, a postdoctoral fellow studying veterinary well-being, tackle the rising pet vaccine hesitancy. They discuss the impact of misinformation, mistrust, and cost on owners' decisions. Myths linking vaccines to issues like autism are debunked, emphasizing the importance of science-based discussion. The duo also highlights how building trust in veterinary practices and leveraging the human-animal bond can enhance public health outcomes.

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INSIGHT

Rising Pet Vaccine Hesitancy

Up to a quarter of pet owners may show some degree of vaccine hesitancy, shifting from small pockets to broader prevalence.
Veterinarians must prioritize critical vaccines like rabies to protect both human and animal health.

ADVICE

Keep Annual Vet Visits

Visit your veterinarian at least once a year for an annual exam and timely vaccines as recommended.
Tailor vaccine choices to your pet's lifestyle and local disease risks, such as leptospirosis on the East Coast.

INSIGHT

Mistrust And Cost Drive Decisions

Owners delay vaccines for a mix of mistrust, misinformation, and cost barriers, mirroring human vaccine trends.
Veterinary care is uniquely influenced by direct out-of-pocket costs, increasing these trade-offs.

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About this episode:

As hesitancy about human vaccines rises, so too does skepticism of routine pet immunizations. In this episode: Veterinarians Meghan Davis and Kaitlin Waite explain what's behind growing anti-vaccine sentiment among pet owners, how veterinarians are navigating this divide, and why an understanding of the human-animal bond can yield better public health outcomes for all.

Guests:

Meghan Davis, PhD, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian and public health researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a joint appointment at the School of Medicine.

Kaitlin Waite, MPH, DVM, is a veterinarian and a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she also serves as the Deputy Director of Outreach Core at the POE Center.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

Here's Why Fewer People Are Vaccinating Their Pets—TIME
Vaccine Skepticism Comes for Pet Owners, Too—New York Times
The importance of vaccinating your pet—Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Could One Health Prevent the Next Pandemic?—Public Health On Call (September 2025)

Transcript information:

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