Photo: Colleen McCormick Blair / Zoo New England
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) – The staff at Zoo New England have started to vaccinate certain animals that are more susceptible to contracting Covid-19.
Dr. Chris Bonar is the senior veterinarian in Zoo New England’s Animal Health Department. While none of the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo or Stone Zoo have gotten the virus, Bonar said the vaccine is an important preventative health measure to protect these species.
“We are deeply committed to providing exceptional care to all of the animals residing at our zoos,” Bonar said. “While we do not expect any adverse reactions to the vaccine, nor have any been reported from other zoos, we will be monitoring all of the animals closely for any signs of a vaccine reaction.”
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Zoetis is the global animal health company that developed the vaccine for animals. The vaccine has been authorized on a case-by-case basis by the United States Department of Agriculture and the appropriate state veterinarians.
Zoo New England has received approval to administer the shot, of which Zoetis has distributed more than 11,000 doses nationwide.
The highest risk species at Zoo New England include primates, lions, tigers, snow leopards, ferrets and otters. These species will receive the vaccine first.
Like the human vaccine, the Zoetis shot is administered in 2 doses, about four weeks apart. Zoo New England estimated it will take between 3 and 4 months to fully vaccinate all the at-risk animals at both zoos.
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