Russia registers world's first vaccine against COVID-19 for animals

The world's first vaccine against a new type of coronavirus for animals, developed by scientists from Rosselkhoznadzor , has been registered in Russia. This was reported to journalists by the deputy head of the supervisory department Konstantin Savenkov.

"The vaccine against coronavirus infection ( COVID-19 ) carnivores sorbed inactivated "Karnivak-Kov", developed by the Federal Center for Animal Health (FGBI "ARRIAH") subordinate to Rosselkhoznadzor, is registered in Russia. It is the first and to date the only in the world as a prophylactic drug against COVID-19 for animals," he said.

According to him, as early as April, mass production of the vaccine can be launched on the basis of the country's largest platform for the production of drugs for animals of the Federal Center for Animal Health.

He added that dogs, cats, arctic foxes, minks, foxes and other animals were involved in clinical trials of the vaccine, which started in October last year. "The results of the studies allow us to conclude that the vaccine is harmless and that it has a high immunogenic activity, since all vaccinated animals tested developed antibodies to coronavirus in 100% of cases," he assured.

Savenkov also noted that Rosselkhoznadzor scientists continue to study how long immunity develops after the drug is administered. "Today, this figure is at least six months," he said.

Other countries are showing interest in Russian development, including Greece, Poland, Austria, as well as the USA , Canada and Singapore.

"In connection with the registration of cases of animal disease COVID-19 in many countries of the world, the vaccine developed by the Federal State Budgetary Institution ARRIAH is planned to be purchased by both domestic fur farms and commercial structures from Greece, Poland and Austria. Interest in Karnivak-Cove is shown and enterprises from the USA, Canada and Singapore," Savenkov said.

According to him, the vaccine is of particular importance because, as noted by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), some animal species are susceptible to COVID-19. Cases of detection of this disease have been reported in many countries of the world, which report new cases of infection to the OIE weekly. For example, last week the OIE received information about the detection of a coronavirus infection in three pets in Mexico and one in Italy, the deputy head of the Rosselkhoznadzor cited an example.

He also recalled that a week earlier, official sources in Argentina announced the registration of the disease in four dogs and cats. In addition, in 2020, mass detections of COVID-19 were recorded on mink farms. In particular, infections with a mutated virus were found in most fur farms in Denmark, in connection with which the country's authorities decided on the mass destruction of these animals. According to Savenkov, two cases of cat infection with a new coronavirus infection have been officially established in Russia so far: in Moscow and Tyumen.

“The use of the vaccine, according to Russian scientists, can prevent the development of virus mutations, which most often occur during interspecies transmission of the pathogen. It should be noted that there is no scientific evidence of the transmission of a new coronavirus infection from animals to people, this has been reported by the World Health Organization more than once ( WHO)," Savenkov said. He added that animals can become infected with some other species from the coronavirus family, other than COVID-19.