From the News: Apes at San Diego Zoo become first non-human primates to receive COVID-19 vaccine

Apes at San Diego Zoo become first non-human primates to receive COVID-19 vaccine

Nine great apes at the San Diego Zoo - four orangutans, five bonobos - have become the first zoo animals in the world to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  The apes received a two dose treatment of a new veterinary COVID vaccine, different from the one the one which is being used to treat humans (this is worth pointing out as there were plenty of people outraged that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo got a COVID test last year when tests were scarce, even though it was a different test than the one humans receive).  

This development follows the infection and recovery of gorillas at the Zoo's sister facility, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, earlier this year.  As vaccination becomes more prevalent, it will be interesting to see what other species end up being vaccinated.  Big cats, which have already had a number of cases at zoos across the world?  Bats, where the disease is believed to have originated?  Probably not any strong need to look at birds or reptiles at this point.  

For right now, we still have plenty of people to worry about getting shots into - including the keepers.