3 must-reads for World Animal Vaccination Day

Each year, World Animal Vaccination Day is observed on April 20th to raise awareness about the importance of vaccinating animals against various infectious diseases. Here are 3 articles spotlighting topics related to animal vaccines within the field of veterinary medicine.

1. Vaccine hesitancy has been on the rise within human and veterinary medicine. When the client wearies of allowing vaccinations or is refusing them, it can have a snowball effect on the health of their pet and of any other animals the pet interacts with daily.
2. Preventive care for cats and dogs in shelter medicine through vaccination is important for reducing the risk of infection and disease transmission between animals and staff. Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB, a veterinary behaviorist for Gigi’s pet adoption service in Canal Winchester, Ohio, explained in a session at the Fetch dvm360 conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, that keeping animals calm and reducing fear when administering vaccinations can go a long way in keeping them and the veterinary team safe.
3. In her lecture at the 2023 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Deborah Fuller, PhD, a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, provided an overview of mRNA and DNA vaccines and discussed their value to the future of veterinary medicine.