The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines is aiming to obtain approval for the commercial distribution of AVAC live vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) by April. This initiative follows the successful implementation of a government-controlled vaccination program that began in August 2024 in Lobo, Batangas, targeting healthy pigs. DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa announced that the goal is to secure commercial approval for these vaccines from Vietnam in the first week of April. The rollout of these vaccines will be closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), ensuring a controlled commercial release. The move is part of a broader strategy to accelerate the recovery of the local hog industry, which has been severely impacted by ASF, especially in the latter half of 2024. Alongside this, the government continues its vaccination efforts in selected areas and maintains strict border controls. The DA has already administered 490,000 doses of the ASF AVAC live vaccines under its program, which has significantly reduced the number of affected barangays from 534 to 68. The success of these efforts is evident in regions like Batangas, where no new cases have been reported, and in Quezon, where the situation is being closely watched.
April Approval Sought for Commercial ASF Vaccines in Philippines
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