Hog raisers warned vs ASF vaccines sold online

MANILA, Philippines — Farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) yesterday warned hog raisers against buying African swine fever (ASF) vaccines online.

Sinag chairman Rosendo So said he has informed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the illegal sale of ASF vaccines online.

“We saw (ASF vaccines being sold) online. This is illegal. The FDA and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) have accredited only AVAC (vaccine) for testing,” So said.

He said no ASF vaccine has been approved for commercial distribution and it should not be sold commercially.

“Secretary Laurel knows this. The illegal sale of vaccines online has been reported to the FDA. Hog raisers will be informed that they cannot just buy online as these vaccines can have (adverse) effects and may result in further spread of ASF,” So said.

He said that Sinag and other hog raisers’ groups would act as observers in the government’s controlled vaccination in Batangas.

“The trial will be conducted by the BAI. Local government units will monitor the development to determine the efficacy of the vaccine,” he added.

Earlier, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the DA would start vaccinating hogs on Sept. 2 in Lobo, Batangas, the “ground zero” of ASF outbreaks.

At least 10,000 doses of ASF vaccine acquired through emergency procurement will be used for the initial vaccination.

So said Sinag officials would visit the manufacturing facility of AVAC in Vietnam next week “to determine the efficacy of the vaccine.”

Industry stakeholders will monitor the conduct of controlled vaccination to ensure that protocols will be followed properly.

“There will be clustering of areas as one bottle of the vaccine is equivalent to 50 doses. It is important to consider that the area where the vaccination will be conducted is not flooded and is suitable for trial. Hogs that will be vaccinated should test negative for ASF,” So said.