Russia making Covid-19 vaccine for cats and minks now despite doubts about its human vaccine's efficacy
After cases of domestic cats getting infected with Covid-19 in Moscow and Tyumen were reported, Russia is developing a new coronavirus vaccine to protect its felines as well as mink in its extensive fur farms.
The announcement was made by Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia's veterinary watchdog, which added that the vaccine for animals is expected to be tested in the autumn. "We are working on the creation of a vaccine for animals against the new coronavirus infection," said the organization's head Sergey Dankvert. "The vaccine is needed primarily for mink. They quickly transmit the virus to each other. People will want to vaccinate pets as well — for example, cats that become infected with a new coronavirus infection." Russia's fur industry depends on 100 fur farms specializing in mink farming. So far, there has been one reported case of a mink infecting a human in the Netherlands.
The news of the upcoming vaccine for animals comes after Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine for use last week. It was reported that one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughters was inoculated and was "feeling well". The vaccine was approved after less than two months of human testing, sparking concerns that the country was putting national prestige before sound science and safety.
However, Putin insisted that the vaccine has undergone the necessary tests and has been proven efficient even as Russia lays out plans for a “massive release” to the public. The head of Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Professor Alexander Gintsburg, is said to be the key scientist behind the human vaccine. He has claimed in several interviews that the "jealous" West was trying to "buy out" the expert brains in his team. "Any American or European university can only dream of having such researchers," he said. "And they are seeking to lure them away. But they will not be able to."
When President Donald Trump was asked on Friday, August 14, what he thought about Russia's Covid-19 vaccine during a White House press conference, he said: “We don’t know much about it. We hope it works, we do, we hope it works. They’ve cut off certain trials and we feel it’s just important to go through the process.” Scientists and public health officials have been skeptical and have questioned the safety and efficiency of the vaccine. “I think virtually every vaccine expert in the world looking at this has been quite concerned whether this was a wise decision. Some have called this Russian roulette,” Dr Francis Collins, director of the National Institute of Health, told reporters. Some have also expressed concerns over the fact that this could put pressure on the United States to approve a vaccine before it is ready.
Apparently some polls have shown that Americans would be hesitant about taking a potential Covid-19 vaccine even if it clears the standard regulatory approval processes of the US. Hence, in the same briefing, Trump said that he had been asked if he was willing to take one of the vaccines being developed in partnership with the US government. “I’d go first or last. I’ll do whatever they want me to," he said.