DA warned against use of expired ASF vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — Farmers’ groups have warned the Department of Agriculture (DA) against using the expired 150,000 doses of vaccine against African swine fever to curb ASF outbreaks, particularly in Batangas.

Rosendo So, chairman of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, said farmers and hograisers have raised concern over a plan to use the ASF vaccines that have been in the country and expired in March.

Farmers and hograisers expressed their concern on the matter during a meeting last Friday of various stakeholders and the technical working group, which was presided by Agriculture Assistant Secretary for swine and poultry Constante Palabrica.

“We are using public funds. Why would we risk using expired vaccines? If private commercial farms want to use expired vaccines, that’s their risk, but not for the government’s trial,” So said.

The DA earlier announced that at least P350 million was allocated for the procurement of 600,000 doses of ASF vaccine.

So said the DA should have destroyed the expired ASF vaccines, like what the government did to the COVID shots that were not used during the pandemic and later expired.