Fact Check: Are Animals Being Vaccinated Against COVID-19?

It’s been nearly six months now since COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out in a phased manner in different countries.

Young adults have started getting the vaccine in some nations, and the focus is currently on vaccination of children. Some manufacturers have started clinical trials on children already, and it may not be long before it is rolled out in countries like USA.

What about a vaccine for animals? When is that going to materialise?

Well, according to media reports, Russia has started inoculating animals against COVID-19.

The Carnivak-Cov vaccine is being administered at veterinary clinics in several regions of the country, BBC quoted Russia’s veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor as telling local media.

As per trials, Carnivak-Cov jab provides immunity to animals for about six months.

The vaccine has proved to be effective after being tested on dogs, cats, mink, foxes and other animals, Rosselkhoznadzor said.

According Julia Melano, adviser to the Rosselkhoznadzor chief, an increasing number of vaccination requests are coming from “breeders, pet owners who travel frequently and also citizens whose animals roam freely.

Russia registered the vaccine on March 31 and started mass production of Carnivac-Cov in early May. The first batch of 17,000 doses is now available.

The production capacity of this vaccine is 3 million doses per month right now.

Many countries including Argentina, South Korea, Japan and some EU nations have shown interest in the Carnivak-Cov vaccine, the agency said, adding that Russia is negotiating early registration of the vaccine abroad.

COVID-19 has been a serious problem for minks, semi-aquatic mammals farmed for their fur.

US veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis is also developing a vaccine for animals.