Maryland Zoo Set To Begin Vaccinating Some Animals Against COVID-19

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Over the adjacent fewer months, the Maryland Zoo volition vaccinate circumstantial taxon of animals that whitethorn beryllium susceptible to COVID-19.

The carnal wellness institution Zoetis developed a vaccine specifically for animals and is donating much than 11,000 doses to immunize 100 mammalian taxon surviving astatine 70 zoos crossed the country, the zoo said connected Tuesday.

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Dr. Ellen Bronson, elder manager of carnal health, conservation, and probe astatine the Maryland Zoo, said determination person been nary cases of COVID-19 successful the animals astatine the zoo, “but the vaccine volition adhd different furniture of extortion for the animals successful our care.”

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North American stream otters, chimpanzees and feline species–including cheetahs, bobcats and lions–are astir apt to declaration the virus, Bronson added.

“Many of these animals are trained to enactment successful their ain wellness care, meaning they willingly enactment with the carnal attraction squad and veterinary technicians to person injections, and successful immoderate cases to adjacent let humor to beryllium drawn and person ultrasound examinations performed portion awake,” Bronson said. “The grooming avoids the request successful immoderate situations to anesthetize the carnal for insignificant aesculapian procedures.”

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After receiving their shots, the animals volition beryllium monitored for immoderate broadside effects.

CBS Baltimore Staff