The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday, July 4, that the vaccine for African Swine Fever (ASF) would soon be available for commercial distribution.
The DA, through a statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), said that the commercial trial for the vaccines would be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in two weeks.
“Malapit nang lumabas ‘yung approval sa vaccine for the swine (The approval for the vaccine for the swine will soon come out),” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said at the sidelines of Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFF) event in Calabayog City, Eastern Samar.
The DA expects the availability of the vaccines would stop the spread of ASF in the country.
“FDA and the DA are working very closely on this. Ang ganda ng teamwork namin (We have a very good teamwork),” Laurel added.
Describing the vaccine as effective, the DA chief said that the vaccine from Vietnam “really works” and “that solves our problem.”
ASF affects hog production. In 2020, thousands of pigs in Luzon have been hit by it.
ASF is a highly contagious and deadly swine disease that can affect both farm-raised and feral (wild) pigs.
Meanwhile, Laurel said the DA aims to concentrate on checking imported goods entering the country.
“Kailangan i-check kasi I believe dati naman wala naman tayong ASF, wala naman tayong bird flu (We need to check because I believe we don’t have ASF before, we don’t have bird flu),” he said.
“Dapat doon tayo sa gates nagbabantay (We need to man the gates) and after that internal,” the official added.
Earlier, President Marcos underscored the importance of anti-ASF vaccines, saying that their availability would pave the way for the swine industry’s recovery.