Philippines approves Viet Nam's ASF vaccine

Information from the press office of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) indicates that the Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has approved AVAC ASF LIVE for commercial circulation. This is the first African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine for meat pigs approved for widespread sale, providing a new tool for the pig farming industry, which has suffered heavy losses from the disease, amid the Philippine Government's efforts to restore the country's pig herd.

Developed by AVAC Viet Nam Joint Stock Company, AVAC ASF LIVE is a freeze-dried, live attenuated vaccine created using gene deletion technology to protect pigs against the ASF virus. The vaccine was licensed nearly seven years after ASF first appeared in the Philippines in 2019, which caused the country's total pig herd to plummet from about 13 million heads before the outbreak to around 8 million heads.

Philippine Undersecretary of Agriculture for Livestock Constante J. Palabrica stated that a second vaccine, PROVAC from South Korea, is currently being tested by the BAI. If approved, this vaccine could offer pig farmers an additional option starting next year in the fight against the virus that has repeatedly disrupted domestic pork production, particularly during the rainy season.

Philippine Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. shared: "Having an ASF vaccine approved for commercial circulation is of utmost importance to our repopulation program. The vaccine provides farmers with an additional tool to protect healthy pig herds as we strive to recover the livestock industry and ensure a more stable pork supply".

ASF does not infect humans but can cause severe consequences for pig herds, forcing farmers to cull infected or exposed animals and disrupting the repopulation process. The disease also makes some producers hesitant to return to pig farming, especially in areas with continuous outbreaks.

According to the BAI, ASF outbreaks have appeared in 76 out of the 82 Philippine provinces, demonstrating the scale of the challenge the country's livestock sector is facing. The damage is particularly severe for smallholder farmers, who often have fewer resources to maintain strict biosecurity measures and offset losses caused by the disease.

Mr. Palabrica said he has asked Secretary Tiu Laurel to allocate 1 billion pesos (about 418 billion VND) in 2027 to support vaccination programs, including ASF vaccination for smallholder pig farmers. This support could help small-scale farmers access the vaccine more favorably.

The Philippine Government identifies vaccination as a part of the overall repopulation strategy, alongside disease surveillance, enhanced biosecurity, transport control, and targeted repopulation. The goal is to return the total pig herd to pre-ASF outbreak levels.

ASF is impact extends beyond farmers. The sharp decline in the domestic pig herd has contributed to supply shortages and made the Philippines more dependent on imported pork, while recurrent outbreaks continue to threaten domestic production.

Restoring the pig herd therefore holds significance beyond recovering farmers' incomes. A healthier, larger pig herd can help secure a more stable pork supply and, in the long run, reduce price pressure on consumers.

The vaccine is not a "magic wand" that can solve every problem. However, after years of combating ASF mainly through zoning, culling, and biosecurity measures, Philippine pig farmers now have a new tool to fight the disease proactively.

For an industry that has spent years struggling to survive against ASF, this is a significant boost for the recovery process.

$ 1 = VND 26,285 - Sources: Vietcombank.