In News: The Agriculture Ministry unveiled India’s first Covid-19 vaccine for animals.
Developed by the Hisar-based National Research Centre on Equines, the vaccine, called Ancovax, can protect animals against the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.
This is the first Covid-19 vaccine for animals developed in India.
There were reports from Russia last year that that country, too, had developed a vaccine against animals such as dogs, cats, minks, and foxes.
HOW IT WORKS
Ancovax can be used in dogs, lions, leopards, mice, and rabbits.
It is an inactivated vaccine developed using an infectious part of the Delta variant.
In addition, it uses Alhydrogel as an adjuvant to boost the immune response.
THE NEED:
There have been reports of Covid-19 infection in several animals, including dogs and cats.
The vaccine can protect animals in the zoo.
The animals develop similar symptoms to humans – cough, cold, fever, and lung lesions
It can also prevent transmission from companion animals to the humans
The aim of the vaccine is to protect endangered animals
Previous Year Questions
Q.1) What is the importance of using \ Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? (2020)
These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.
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