Animals get COVID-19 vaccine at Oakland Zoo

A San Francisco Bay Area zoo is inoculating its big cats, bears and ferrets against the coronavirus as part of a national effort to protect animal species using an experimental vaccine. Tigers Ginger and Molly were the first two animals at the Oakland Zoo to get the vaccine this week. The doses were donated and developed by veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis in New Jersey. The San Diego Zoo started inoculating primates in January after a COVID-19 breakout among a troop of gorillas at its Safari Park. Great apes share 98% of their DNA with humans and are especially susceptible, as are felines. Confirmed coronavirus cases include gorillas, tigers and lions at zoos, and domestic cats and dogs.