Calgary Zoo prepares to vaccinate sensitive species against COVID-19

Calgary Zoo parking lot entrance. (file)

CALGARY -

Millions of Albertans have rolled up their sleeves for COVID-19 vaccines and soon it will be time for some animals at the Calgary Zoo to get a shot.

The Calgary Zoo says it is one six Canadian facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that are receiving Zoetis vaccines for animals.

It will be using the vaccines to protect some of its sensitive species just as soon as the shipment arrives.

However, the zoo said there is not a firm timeline on when that will be.

The Canadian Centre for Veterinary Biologics (CCVB) of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for licensing veterinary biologics in Canada and for regulating their importation and use.

In an email to CTV News, a spokesperson for the CFIA said that at this time, there is no licenced SARS-CoV-2 vaccine approved for use in animal species available in Canada, but exceptions can be made.

"In certain circumstances, upon assessment by the CFIA, experimental vaccines may be authorized for emergency use under veterinary supervision and subject to specific conditions," it read.

"Canadian veterinarians may apply for the CCVB's permission to obtain a veterinary biologic that is unlicensed in Canada, for use under their supervision in research or in emergency situations. For product manufactured in a foreign country, importation for restricted use under veterinary supervision is authorized by issuing a Permit to Import Veterinary Biologics to the veterinarian.

"For example, in discussions with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the provinces and the industry, the CFIA granted permission for the emergency importation and use of an experimental SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine for mink, under licensed veterinarian supervision."

In Quebec, the Granby Zoo east of Montreal says it is hoping in the coming weeks or months to vaccinate about 90 gorillas, big cats and other susceptible animals.

Several zoos in the U.S. have had animals test positive and even die from COVID-19 this year.

Earlier this month, the Lincoln Children's Zoo in Nebraska announced the death of three snow leopards due to complications from COVID-19 after the animals tested positive. The zoo has two Sumatran tigers who were also infected but said last week they have seemingly recovered.

A couple of weeks ago, staff at the Denver Zoo in Colorado said two hyenas had tested positive for the coronavirus in what is the first confirmed cases among the animals worldwide.

At the start of the year, officials at the San Diego Zoo said eight western lowland gorillas had caught the West Coast variant of the virus, but made a full recovery.