Apes At A California Zoo Just Received A Different Version Of A COVID-19 Vaccine
Doses of COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered to people around the world, and the San Diego Zoo has already started protecting our wildlife.
The San Diego Tribune reports the zoo has so far administered the vaccine to nine great apes, with four more scheduled to get it soon, making them the first non-human primates to receive an experimental dose of a vaccine designed for minks, dogs and cats.*
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Gorillas and other primates are, much like humans, vulnerable to COVID-19 and can even exhibit severe symptoms according to a report done by Forbes.
Zoetis, a global animal health company, developed this vaccine with one key difference from the ones created by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
The difference is the "species that the vaccine is tested on" according to WCNC News, with Zoetis testing on cats and dogs.
Primates are not the only species that is susceptible to the virus, as big cats such as tigers and lions have also reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the pandemic.
*This article has been updated.
The CDC has a robust website with all the latest information on the vaccines and can answer any questions you may have. Click here for more information.