San Diego Zoo vaccinates apes against COVID-19

A group of great apes has gotten the coronavirus vaccine at the San Diego Zoo. Four orangutans and five bonobos already got their shots, and four more of the animals will also get vaccinated soon. Eight gorillas got infected with COVID-19 in January; they're all on the mend. The apes were given an experimental veterinary coronavirus vaccine that was initially developed for pets and is now being tested in mink.

Class discussion: Besides protecting them from getting sick, why would it be important to give coronavirus vaccine to animals which commonly come into contact with people? Where did the COVID-19 virus likely originate? Why were millions of farm-raised mink slaughtered last year? Dogs, cats and ferrets also can be infected with coronavirus. Should we vaccinate our pets? What other infections can jump to humans from domesticated animals such as pigs?