San Antonio Zoo will vaccinate animals against COVID-19 in coming weeks

Animal health company, Zoetis, donated the vaccine for animals to the zoo. The business is sending more than 11,000 doses of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine to nearly 70 zoos, according to a July 2 news release from Zoetis. 

According to a Zoetis statement, “at least 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases have an animal origin, including COVID-19. Now more than ever before, we can all see the important connection between animal health and human health.”

The first San Antonio Zoo animals to receive the vaccine will be the African lions, Sumatran tigers, white-cheeked gibbons, and Francois langur. More species will receive the vaccine as it becomes available, according to the release.

Experimental use is being authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas state veterinarian, the zoo stated in its release. 

“We are very excited to be one of the initial zoos in the country to obtain and administer the Zoetis vaccine,” Tim Morrow, the San Antonio Zoo CEO and president, stated in the release. “The safety of our animals, guests, and zoo crew is our top priority. Our veterinary and animal care teams have worked incredibly hard to protect and prevent our animals from contracting COVID-19 through increased disinfection, personal protective equipment, and new guest procedures. Vaccinating our animals is one more important step.”

The zoo’s veterinary staff expects delivery soon and is coordinating with animal care staff on specific dates when the vaccines will be given. The vaccine is similar, but not identical, to the same vaccine developed for humans and will require a booster three weeks after the first injection, according to the news release.

Zoetis launched the vaccine deployment to dozens of zoos after following a request from the San Diego Zoo, which confirmed COVID-19 cases in its gorillas in January.