At least 75 people inoculated with canine coronavirus vaccine in Chile

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Two veterinarians have been accused of administering canine vaccines against coronavirus to some 75 people in the city of Calama, in northern Chile, said on Tuesday, April 20th, the Health Secretariat (SEREMI) of the Antofagasta region.

SEREMI officials last September audited a veterinary clinic in Calama (about 1,400 km north of Santiago) where staff worked without masks as they claimed that they had already been vaccinated against Covid by veterinarian María Fernanda Muñoz, who first inoculated with the octuple vaccine that is administered to dogs to protect them against canine coronavirus, a common infection in these animals.

“This is very dangerous. There are studies that say that the effects on people can be local, such as irritation due to the medicine, or systemic effects,” explained the Antofagasta Region Secretary of Health Rossana Díaz.

The other case relates to veterinarian Carlos Pardo, who allegedly conducted a study in humans with the vaccine for dogs and administered doses to an undetermined number of people, assuring that it was effective in fighting Covid-19.

The two cases came to light this week when SEREMI officials reported to the Prosecutor’s Office that the vets had failed to pay the fines they had been given.

The SEREMI public health authority said at least 75 people had received the dog inoculations, including health workers and miners, since the area is home to the Chuquicamata copper mine, one of the most important in the country. Some local media report that at least 100 people received the vaccine originally intended for dogs.

“In the background, it is being experimented on human beings,” said Paola Carrasco, a veterinarian from the Municipality of Calama, to a local radio station.

The events occurred at a time when the vaccines against Covid-19 had not yet reached Chile. On December 24th, vaccination began with medical personnel and on February 3rd to the entire population, thanks to a rapid vaccination program which to date exceeds 7.7 million people who have been administered at least the first dose.

Source: DW