Hanoi (VNA) – The AVAC Vietnam JSC exported its second batch of African swine fever (ASF) vaccine, AVAC ASF LIVE, comprising 340,000 doses, to the Philippines on September 8.

Nguyen Van Diep, General Director of AVAC Vietnam, said the Philippines had already imported 460,000 doses and found the vaccine to be highly safe and effective. The latest order of 340,000 doses, he noted, reflects the country’s continued confidence in AVAC ASF LIVE.

The company has maintained regular contact with its Philippine partners and directly reported on the vaccine’s use to the Philippine Department of Agriculture, he added.

In the Philippines, the vaccine is still undergoing registration and close monitoring by the department, meaning its circulation remains more restricted than in Vietnam. It has been assessed as safe and effective by Philippine regulators, and wider rollout will require national approval and supervision.

Beyond the Philippines, AVAC is also targeting other markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and several African countries, with registration processes underway in India, Malaysia, Nepal, and Myanmar.

In Vietnam, AVAC ASF LIVE has been widely used, with more than 4 million doses supplied and receiving positive feedback from major livestock farms. The company currently holds around 1.5 million doses in stock.

Vietnam has recently detected a new ASF variant, a hybrid of Type 1 and Type 2. While the current vaccine provides effective protection against Type 2, it is less effective against the hybrid strain. AVAC is developing a new vaccine to address this challenge, with registration expected in 2026. Although vaccine development lags behind viral mutation, it remains the most effective tool for disease prevention.

To better serve medium- and small-scale farms, AVAC plans to launch a new packaging format in September 2025, offering five-dose vials to ensure convenience, cost savings, and reduced waste.

Nguyen Thi Huong, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Veterinary Association, said the event underscored three key values: science and technology, socio-economic benefits, and international cooperation. Having previously led a vaccine production and export business, she noted that the Philippines’ second import demonstrated both proven efficacy and trust in the Vietnamese-produced ASF vaccine.

🦄 According to Huong, safe livestock production depends on two critical measures: biosecurity and vaccination. While large enterprises are well-positioned to adopt biosecurity practices, vaccination is seen as the most practical solution for smallholder farms. Traditionally, outbreaks in animal husbandry have been handled through isolation and culling, posing significant risks to the industry. For diseases without specific treatments, vaccination is all the more essential./.