Monkeys Become First Animals To Receive COVID Vaccine In Test Trial 03/04/21 AT 11:20 AM As the COVID vaccine rolls out to Americans across the country, doses of an experimental COVID shot are being administered to a number of monkeys at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The milestone vaccine trial is the first time that non-humans have received the COVID shot. The first animal to receive the COVID vaccine at the zoo was an orangutan named Karen, who was also the first ape to undergo heart surgery in 1994, National Geographic reported. The news outlet also said that three other orangutans and five bonobos have also received two doses of the shot in February. The vaccine was specifically developed for animals by the veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis.