According to the survey, nearly 40 percent of respondents believed that canine vaccines are unsafe, more than 20 percent believed these vaccines are ineffective, and 30 percent considered them to be medically unnecessary. About 37 percent of dog owners also believed that canine vaccination could cause their dogs to develop autism, even though there is no scientific data that validates this risk for animals or humans. The American Animal Hospital Association calls vaccinations “a cornerstone of canine preventive healthcare” and recommends that all dogs (barring specific medical reasons), receive a core set of vaccines for rabies, distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza, and advises that many dogs receive additional non-core vaccinations for Lyme disease, Bordetella (which causes kennel cough), and other diseases.
Gabriella Motta reiterates that the rabies vaccine is overwhelmingly safe and effective. With any drug, treatment, or vaccine, there is always a risk of adverse effects, but the risk with the rabies vaccine is quite low—especially when compared to the risk of rabies infection, which is almost 100 percent lethal. The risk is especially high for veterinarians and clinical staff. When a staff member is bitten by an animal, there is always concern for infection or trauma, but the seriousness of the situation escalates if the animal is unvaccinated or overdue for its rabies vaccine.
Notably, the findings show indication of a COVID vaccine spillover effect in the US—that people who hold negative attitudes toward human vaccines are more likely to hold negative views toward vaccinating their pets. These dog owners are also more likely to oppose policies that encourage widespread rabies vaccination, and less likely to make the effort to vaccinate their pets. 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. The disease still poses a potential health threat; more than 59,000 people die from canine-mediated rabies across the globe each year.