Animals at the Oakland Zoo in the United States began receiving COVID-19 vaccines this past weekend, following a donation. Zoetis a global animal health company donated more than 11,000 doses of an experimental vaccine.
The vaccine was requested by the San Diego Zoo in California, in March of 2020 after several gorillas had confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Animals, including mountain lions, tigers and bears were administered a COVID-19 vaccine. The zoo says primates will be next to receive the vaccine. https://t.co/MfFzoybsYW pic.twitter.com/LHpCJ3aMxg
— ABC News (@ABC) July 3, 2021
The news brought shockwaves to the rest of the world, especially in South Africa where a small percentage of the overall percentage has been vaccinated.
So early last year you either had to be a zoo animal or an athlete/celebrity to get tested. And now zoo animals are getting vaccinated ahead of healthcare workers in other countries. The priorities seem a bit off surely? https://t.co/Oy5dhX0zKG
— Guha Arunkumar (@Guha_Arunkumar) July 3, 2021
Animals getting vaccinated in the States🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️, eish Covid is turning into a 3rd world country problem.#VaccineRolloutSA pic.twitter.com/b5yduTvYLL
— Ruf (@RufadzoB) July 5, 2021
💀 animals got vaccinated before most South Africans https://t.co/lr39Ugqk0W
— Trav. (@cameronjulius1) July 5, 2021
Russia develops an animal specific vaccine
In March, Russia announced it had registered what it said was the world’s first animal-specific jab, several regions then followed with their vaccinations of animals at veterinary clinics.
There’s been multiple reports in different countries where animals have been infected by the virus. According to scientist in Russia the vaccine is meant for “breeders, pet-owners who travel frequently and also citizens whose animals roam freely”



