Philippines approves first commercial ASF vaccine for swine industry

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has approved the commercial sale of AVAC ASF LIVE, the first African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine for fatteners cleared for public sale in the Philippines. Developed by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company, the vaccine is a live, attenuated, gene-deleted freeze-dried product designed to protect pigs against the virus.

The approval is a key component of the government’s efforts to rebuild the national swine herd, which declined from approximately 13 million heads to about 8 million following the first ASF outbreak in 2019. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the vaccine is crucial to the country’s repopulation program and will help secure a stable pork supply.

While the AVAC vaccine is now available, a second vaccine named PROVAC, developed by South Korean firm Komipharm International Co. Ltd., is currently undergoing testing by the BAI. If successful, it could provide another option for hog raisers by next year. Industry representatives have emphasized the need for vaccines to be affordable, particularly for backyard farmers who have faced significant losses.