The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has endorsed the use of the Vietnam-produced Avac African Swine Fever (ASF) live vaccine to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to combat the further spread of the virus in the country.
In an interview with reporters, BAI Assistant Director Arlene Vytiaco said they asked FDA to issue a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) after their field trial for the vaccine was 100 percent successful.
“Ang efficacy trial po was conducted sa anim na farms sa Luzon. Based sa ating results ng safety and efficacy trial, sa safety trial ay na-prove natin na walang side effect or ill effect ang bakuna,” Vytiaco said.
“Ang ginawa sa safety trial ay 10 times the normal dose ang binigay natin sa baboy at walang nagkasakit or walang namatay until the end of the trial,” she added.
Once FDA will issue CPR, the said vaccine shall be conducted to healthy pigs aged 4 to 10 weeks old.
“Kailangan may CPR para maibigay iyong 600,000 na iyan sa Philippines. Otherwise, may mga nakaabang na ibang country,” Vytiaco said.
According to the BAI Assistant Secretary, hogs will surely be protected from the ASF virus as 100 percent of those who received the vaccine have produced antibodies.
“Napakalaking tulong nitong bakuna na ito sa pag-control natin ng ASF dahil alam naman natin na patuloy ang outbreaks natin sa ASF. Marami na pong swine stakeholders ang naghihintay ng magkaroon tayo ng effective na bakuna laban sa ASF,” she said.
Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture (DA) deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said that they will ensure that the price of the vaccines is affordable for hog raisers.
“Pero for now, depende iyan sa supply at demand ng vaccine. We’ll see to it na dapat maprotektusyunan natin ang ating industriya,” he added.
ASF has been detected in several regions of the country.
In May, positive cases of the ASF virus were recorded in the Municipality of Dauin in Negros Oriental province and Bacolod City.
