75 People In Chile Allegedly Given Dog Vaccines Against COVID-19
In a shocking incident, health authorities in Northern Chile have fined two veterinarians for allegedly giving canine vaccines to at least 75 people as false protection against COVID-19.
In a shocking incident, health authorities in Northern Chile have fined two veterinarians for allegedly giving canine vaccines to at least 75 people as false protection against COVID-19.
The incident came to light after the health agency workers visited the veterinary clinic of Maria Fernanda Mu?oz in the city of Calama over a report that people there weren¡¯t using masks and were told it was because they were vaccinated, South China Morning Post reported.
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In an interview on Tuesday with the government¡¯s 24 Horas television channel, Mu?oz acknowledged giving herself and several people in her office a vaccine aimed at canine coronavirus and argued she hadn¡¯t become ill. That occurred last year before any COVID vaccines had been approved in Chile.
¡°The truth is, it¡¯s very dangerous. There are studies saying that the effects in humans can be local, as in irritation ¡ or systemic. But we haven¡¯t done a study of what happens (when) inoculating a person with canine vaccines because that would be unethical,¡± Roxana D¨ªaz, Deputy Health Secretary for Antofagasta province, told AFP.
Also read: Those Above 18 Can Get COVID Vaccine From May 1, But May Cost More In Open Market Than Before
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The US-based VCA veterinary hospital chain includes a reference on its website warning against confusing the new human coronavirus ¡ª one of a broad family of viruses that affect many species ¡ª with the one that causes an intestinal ailment in dogs that is targeted by canine vaccines.
D¨ªaz said another veterinarian, Carlos Pardo, had been falsely promoting the use of the canine vaccine for humans.
Also read: AstraZeneca To Develop Vaccine Against Covid-19 Variant By End-2021
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The health department fined Pardo the equivalent of about $9,200 and Mu?oz about $10,300. Both have appealed.
The incident comes less than two weeks after three women in India's Uttar Pradesh were allegedly administered anti-rabies injections instead of covid vaccine at a government hospital.
