Minks are raised in many countries and have transmitted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)to humans.However,the biologic properties of SARS-CoV-2 in minks are largely unknown.Here,we investigated and found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts,and transmits efficiently in minks via respiratory droplets;pulmonary lesions caused by SARS-CoV-2 in minks are similar to those seen in humans with COVID-19.We further found that a spike protein-based subunit vaccine largely prevented SARS-CoV-2 replication and lung damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in minks.Our study indicates that minks are a useful animal model for evaluating the efficacy of drugs or vaccines against COVID-19 and that vaccination is a potential strategy to prevent minks from transmitting SARS-CoV-2.