AVMA launches resource to help veterinarians address pet vaccine hesitancy

The American Veterinary Medical Association has published a new resource intended to help veterinarians respond to vaccine hesitancy and explain the value of vaccination to pet owners. According to the AVMA, the webpage offers practical tips and techniques for addressing client concerns about vaccine recommendations.¹

The timing may matter. In a 2023 nationally representative survey published in Vaccine, 52% of US dog owners showed some degree of canine vaccine hesitancy. The same study found that 37% of dog owners thought canine vaccines were unsafe, 22% thought they were ineffective, and 30% said they were unnecessary. The authors also reported that canine vaccine hesitancy was associated with rabies nonvaccination and opposition to evidence-based vaccine policies.²

Even so, trust in veterinarians remains important. In a 2025 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association study, 62.9% of dog owners and 61.2% of cat owners were classified as trusting their veterinarians. Dog owners with higher trust were more likely to name veterinarians as their primary source of vaccine information, and the study concluded that trust in veterinarians has important implications for vaccination behavior.³

Earlier veterinary research also suggests that clinicians are already seeing the effects of broader antivaccine sentiment. A 2021 survey of US and Canadian veterinarians found that clients who resisted vaccination often cited cost, low perceived need, or fears that vaccines could cause chronic or severe illness. The authors also reported a positive correlation between organized anti-vaxx activity in a community and the number of vaccine-resistant or vaccine-concerned clients veterinarians encountered.⁴

Taken together, the findings suggest the AVMA’s new resource could be a timely tool for practices trying to keep vaccination conversations grounded in science while preserving client trust.

References

1. American Veterinary Medical Association. Counter vaccine hesitancy with new AVMA resource. Published January 12, 2026. Accessed April 9, 2026.
2. Motta M, Motta G, Stecula D. Sick as a dog? The prevalence, politicization, and health policy consequences of canine vaccine hesitancy (CVH). Vaccine. 2023;41(41):5946-5950. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.059
3. Haeder SF. Trust in veterinarians and association with vaccine information sources and vaccination status among dog and cat owners. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2025;263(5):1-11. Published 2025 Jan 31. doi:10.2460/javma.24.08.0551
4. Kogan LR, Hellyer PW, Rishniw M. American and Canadian veterinarians' perceptions on dog and cat core vaccination rates and the impact of the human medicine anti-vaxx movement on veterinary medicine. Can Vet J. 2021;62(3):247-252.