[Animals] Zoos in the United States have begun vaccinating their animals against covid-19

[#Steeven.™]

The species most vulnerable to contracting the disease began to be vaccinated against covid-19.

Animals in several zoos in the United States began to be vaccinated to protect them from SARS-CoV-2. Tigers, ferrets, monkeys and bears are receiving doses of an experimental vaccine, authorized by the government of the country.

The vaccine will be applied in numerous species, although its authorization for use in dogs and cats is not foreseen. The formula, developed by the veterinary pharmacist Zoetis, was accepted for trial use only by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), indicated in a publication by La Vanguardia.

Zoetis will send doses to 70 zoos in the United States. The first species selected to receive the vaccine are those that are considered most vulnerable to contracting the disease, explained Alex Herman, head of veterinary services at the Oakland Zoo, the first center in the United States to begin the administration of the formula.

"There are documented cases of animals that became seriously ill or even died," Herman explained. At the Oakland Zoo, however, no infections have been recorded.

Zoetis reported that it has prepared 11,000 doses of its new vaccine that it will distribute to zoos, conservation centers, sanctuaries, academic institutions and government organizations in 27 states.

Another US zoo that has also started vaccinating its animals is Denver, according to a CNN publication. The zoo indicated that the center's priority is the safety and well-being of its animals and that there is evidence that primates, carnivores and other mammals can be affected by the virus.

Several animals in zoos and sanctuaries have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, including big cats (lions, tigers, cougars, pumas, snow leopards) and non-human primates (gorillas). These animals are suspected of becoming ill after being exposed to an animal handler with COVID-19.

In many situations, this occurred despite staff wearing personal protective equipment and following sanitary precautions.