Hesitancy around vaccines has spilled over to pet owners in recent years, sparking concern about the resurgence of rabies, a virus that’s nearly always fatal.
Some pet owners argue against vaccinating dogs – over concerns that vaccines shorten the canines’ lifespans or beliefs that vaccines can cause autism in dogs. But autism’s spectrum of symptoms is uniquely human and experts say anti-vaxxing campaigns among dog owners are especially dangerous considering the public health consequences of rabies.
“While, thankfully, we don’t see a lot of rabies, the consequence is disastrous,” Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, told USA TODAY. “It’s essentially 100% fatal. So having a rabies vaccine for your cat and dog is really, really important on many levels.”
It depends on whether you’re establishing immunity or maintaining it, and probably differed in where you live.
Like every other medical action, I hire an expert, listen to their recommendations, ask enough to understand them, and generally follow through