The Philippines continues to import 340,000 doses of ASF vaccine

On the afternoon of September 8 in Hung Yen, AVAC Vietnam JSC held a ceremony to export 340,000 doses of its African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine, AVAC ASF LIVE, to the Philippines.

In a global context where no ASF vaccine is yet available, Vietnam has become the first country to develop and authorize its free circulation since July 2023 successfully. For such a new and critical vaccine, quality remains a matter of global concern, with evaluations and approvals conducted with great caution.

Mr. Nguyen Van Diep, General Director of AVAC Vietnam JSC, said that AVAC ASF LIVE successfully passed initial evaluations and was granted import approval by the Philippines’ Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and Government for the first shipment of 160,000 doses in August 2024. This shipment was delivered to the Philippine Department of Agriculture for use and monitoring.

“After thorough field evaluation of the initial 160,000 doses, the Philippine Government has now placed an additional order for 340,000 doses for continued use. This demonstrates that AVAC’s ASF vaccine has proven its safety and efficiency, thereby receiving the trust of field users in the Philippines. This result further reinforces confidence in the quality of a vaccine made in Vietnam,” Mr. Diep emphasized.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Huong, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Veterinary Science and Technology Association, noted that the domestic use rate of ASF vaccine remains relatively low, partly due to lingering doubts about its reliability. AVAC’s responsibility is to prove those concerns unfounded and to affirm that the vaccine is safe and effective. In particular, since no specific treatment exists for this disease and destruction remains the only solution during outbreaks, vaccination is critically necessary.

According to Dr. Huong, the Philippines’ decision to import AVAC’s ASF vaccine for the second time demonstrates their strong confidence in the product and highlights three important values.

First is the scientific and technological value. AVAC’s ASF vaccine is the result of persistent research and close collaboration between Vietnamese and international scientists, serving as clear evidence of Vietnam’s capacity for innovation.

Second is the socio-economic value. The vaccine not only helps protect the domestic livestock industry but also unlocks opportunities to introduce Vietnamese veterinary products to regional and global markets, thereby enhancing the country’s reputation and position.

Third is the value of international cooperation. The Philippines’ adoption of the Vietnamese ASF vaccine reflects mutual trust and friendly collaboration between the two countries in the fields of veterinary medicine and agriculture, laying the groundwork for broader future partnerships.

Mr. Le Trong Dam, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper, shared that at first, General Director Nguyen Van Diep and AVAC Vietnam were almost alone on the path they had chosen. However, their persistence and determination have yielded initial results that affirm the soundness of their approach.

“Although the domestic vaccination rate remains modest, it has risen significantly, while many countries have returned to purchasing the vaccine for the second time. This is evidence of growing consumer confidence and provides additional strength to the choices made by Mr. Diep and AVAC Vietnam,” Mr. Dam added.

Mr. Juancho Robles, General Director of KPP Power Commodities, which is the importer and distributor of AVAC’s ASF vaccine in the Philippines, stated that, based on official monitoring results from the Bureau of Animal Industry under the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA-BAI), the initial field application of AVAC ASF LIVE showed a 92.78% effectiveness rate in generating detectable antibodies against ASF disease. Field reports also confirmed that vaccinated pigs were generally healthy and that the risk of outbreaks had been significantly reduced.

Mr. Juancho Robles stated that ASF continues to threaten many regions across the Philippines, posing risks to pig farming and farmers’ livelihoods. This additional batch of vaccines was imported to strengthen the country’s prevention efforts, which served as an important complement to ongoing surveillance activities, strict biosecurity measures, and educational programs.

“This second imported shipment will also be allocated and distributed by DA-BAI, with priority given to supporting government-led vaccination programs to protect the domestic pig farming industry and minimize the economic losses caused by ASF,” Mr. Juancho Robles added.