Companion Animal Vaccine Hesitancy: Current Evidence and Practical Communication Strategies.

This review article summarizes the emergence of vaccine hesitancy in companion animal medicine and its parallels with human health care. Factors influencing pet owner vaccination decisions include concerns about safety, necessity, cost, overvaccination, and misinformation. Current literature suggests veterinarians remain the most trusted source of vaccine information and play a central role in maintaining vaccine confidence. The article reviews available data on companion animal vaccination trends, owner attitudes, and veterinary team perceptions while highlighting communication strategies, including motivational interviewing and presumptive recommendations, that may improve vaccine acceptance and strengthen preventive health care delivery.