Hog vaccination vs ASF starts

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Agriculture (DA) will start today the controlled vaccination of hogs against African swine fever in Lobo, Batangas, the “ground zero” of ASF outbreaks.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said 10,000 doses of ASF vaccine acquired through emergency procurement would be used to inoculate pigs in the area.

“The 10,000 (doses) are still not enough for Batangas,” De Mesa said, noting the province’s one million hog population.

He said the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and local veterinarians have completed testing hogs covered by the vaccination program.

“It’s all systems go for the vaccination in Lobo. Those (hogs) tested were negative (for ASF) and healthy. The vaccination will proceed at 9 a.m.,” De Mesa said.

“Each vial contains 50 doses. It is necessary for the vaccination to be strategic, because unlike during COVID, wherein people go to vaccination centers, the pigs will be vaccinated in farms,” he added.

De Mesa said the vaccination would be administered by a licensed veterinarian under the supervision of BAI personnel and the municipal veterinarian.

The vaccination will only cover hogs raised in backyard farms, he said.

After Batangas, the vaccination will prioritize other red zones or infected areas including Laguna, Mindoro, Quezon and Rizal as well as North Cotabato.

De Mesa said another 150,000 doses of ASF vaccine will arrive in the country next week.

He said the vaccine would be stored in the warehouse of the distributor until the procurement process is completed, which normally takes 45 days.

The government allocated P350 million for the procurement of the vaccines, which will be provided for free to hog raisers.

Farmers’s group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) said there would be no pork shortage in December, when demand for pork and pork products is high.

Sinag chairman Rosendo So said only eight percent of the hog population in Batangas is affected by ASF.