February 3, 2023

AVAC Vietnam to distribute its African swine fever vaccine this month

AVAC Vietnam Co Ltd is expected to distribute the African swine fever (ASF) vaccine it developed and produced this month throughout Vietnam, Vietnam Net Global reported.

The AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine began testing on swine farms in March 2022, with an efficacy rate of 95%. On July 8, 2022, the vaccine was approved for distribution and was put to use on swine farms under supervision.

Following approval for distribution, Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Department of Animal Health continues to monitor the quality of the company's 10 vaccine batches. This is to assess the efficacy of 600,000 doses of AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine on swine aged 8-10 weeks.

Nguyen Van Diep, director of AVAC Vietnam, said the first four batches of AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine produced in 2022 were tested and met quality requirements in early January.

AVAC Vietnam also collaborated with the CP Livestock Joint Stock Company (CP Vietnam) to organise the pilot injection of 600,544 swine across 545 farms, and 5,958 samples were collected for testing. The findings showed 93.34% of the samples met the technical requirements.

Phung Duc Tien, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has asked AVAC Vietnam to continue evaluating the vaccine's immunity level, and to provide strict guidelines and recommendations to livestock farmers.

Tien requested detailed technical reports on the administration of 600,000 doses of the vaccine so that Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development could make accurate assessments before it is to be used on a large scale.

Vietnam has become the first country to develop and manufacture two vaccines against ASF, a disease that first appeared in Africa in 1921 and has a mortality rate of up to 100%.

-      Vietnam Net Global