Russia has announced it has registered the world’s first COVID vaccine for animals which could be rolled out as early as April.

The country’s agriculture safety watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, announced on Wednesday that the vaccine’s development followed clinical trials which started last October on dogs, cats, Arctic foxes, minks, foxes and other animals.

The watchdog’s deputy head Konstantin Savenkov told reporters that the vaccine, Carnivak-Cov, “is the world’s first and only product for preventing COVID-19 in animals,” agency TASS reported.

He said that research had shown the vaccine is safe and effective because all vaccinated animals developed antibodies to the novel coronavirus.

He said at present the effectiveness of the jab is estimated “to last no less than six months” and that its mass production may be launched as early as April, the agency reported. The announcement did not specify which animals the vaccine will work on.

Russia was the first country to announce it had developed a coronavirus vaccine for humans, Sputnik V. Authorities have given emergency approval to two others.