DA expands ASF vaccination trial in commercial farms

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has expanded the controlled vaccination against African swine fever (ASF), to include commercial farms amid low participation rate among backyard hog raisers.

To be included in the ASF vaccination trial are commercial farms covered by the integrated national swine production initiatives for the recovery and expansion (INSPIRE) program of the government.

Tiu Laurel issued Administrative Circular (AC) No. 8, which provided supplemental guidelines on the use of ASF vaccines procured by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Earlier, the DA issued AC No. 5, which prioritized the vaccination of healthy hogs raised in backyard or small farms in villages with no reported ASF cases and within designated red zones as well as in cities or municipalities classified under pink or buffer zones.

“The low participation of backyard hog farms presents a significant challenge, making it necessary to expedite the vaccination in commercial farms and swine herds covered by the INSPIRE program to increase the vaccination rate, achieve the desired coverage and facilitate the assessment of the vaccine’s efficacy,” Tiu Laurel said.

The DA has allocated P350 million for the procurement of 600,000 doses of ASF vaccine.

Of the figure, 10,000 vaccine doses were purchased through emergency procurement amid ASF outbreaks in several areas in Batangas in August.