Russia registers world’s first Covid-19 vaccine for cats and dogs as makers of Sputnik V warn pets and farm animals could spread virus

Rosselkhoznadzor, the state agency responsible for veterinary medicine, announced Wednesday that the formula, developed by its researchers, has been officially registered for use. Named Carnivac-Cov, officials say it is “The first, and to date, the only Covid-19 product in the world for animals.”

Clinical trials for the vaccine began in October last year, testing its potential on carnivores, including dogs, cats, arctic foxes, mink and other animals. According to scientists, “The results of these studies allow us to conclude that the vaccine is safe and highly immunogenic, since all of the vaccinated animals that were tested developed antibodies against the coronavirus.”

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Now, the team behind the jab says mass production of the vaccine can begin as early as April, using facilities at the Russian Federal Center for Animal Health, the country’s largest producer of veterinary medicine.

In a statement, Rosselkhoznadzor said that “The vaccine is particularly important because, as the World Organization for Animal Health notes, some species are susceptible to Covid-19. Animal cases have been recorded in many countries around the world. “

In Russia, according to authorities, two cases of cats infected with the coronavirus have been recorded, one in the capital, Moscow, and the other in the Siberian city of Tyumen.

On Monday, Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow, which developed Sputnik V, the country’s first domestic Covid-19 vaccine for humans, warned that animals could become a new front line in the fight against the virus. He said the pandemic “Has not yet realized its pathogenic potential… The next step is the infection of livestock and domestic animals. And when we protect humanity with the help of good vaccines within a year, pets will be infected then and no one will get rid of their beloved pets.

“So,” he argued, “The focus of this pathogen will be around us all the time, and it will continue to evolve. That is, we must be prepared for a long existence with this pathogen.

In December, Denmark was forced to slaughter more than 15 million mink raised for their fur over fears of a mutated form of the virus detected on several farms. However, a number of animals have resurfaced from mass landfills due to the pressure of gases produced during their decomposition. This has raised fears of contamination and 4 million mink corpses are expected to be exhumed as part of a plan to deal with the crisis.

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