Vietnam Gives Green Light to First African Swine Fever Vaccines

According to a statement released by the government on Monday, Vietnam has given its two home-grown vaccines against African swine fever the go-ahead to be used commercially in the country. This makes them the first commercial vaccines ever developed to combat the fatal disease.

In a document that was distributed to the city and province People’s Committees by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), it was stated that individual municipalities may employ the vaccines based on the medical situation in their region, and will assess the effectiveness of the vaccinations once they have been administered. 

NAVET-ASFVAC and AVAC ASF LIVE are the two vaccines that have been given the go-ahead for distribution and will be utilized. These vaccines are the first of their kind to be given the green light. There has not been a vaccine against African swine fever (ASF) that has been approved for commercial use anywhere in the world for more than a century. 

A trial program was carried out before approval was granted, during which approximately 600,000 vaccination doses were given on farms located all throughout Vietnam. The findings, which were published in July 2023, indicate that the pigs that were given the vaccination are in good condition. On average, over 95% of the injected pigs exhibit a robust antibody response after receiving the vaccine. 

The outcomes of vaccine research and manufacturing on the Vietnamese side were also validated by an independent evaluation carried out by a delegation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in April and May of this year.

According to the results of the evaluation, the ASF vaccinations manufactured in Vietnam are compliant with international standards. These standards include those that have been produced by researchers and presented to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

The paper provided by MARD also mentioned the possibility that local pig herds may have been afflicted with ASF or other illnesses during this vaccination program while not exhibiting any clinical signs. As a result, vaccination might result in an outbreak that ultimately causes death. In this particular scenario, the diseased individuals are required to be culled in accordance with the laws. 

In addition, the local authorities will collaborate with the necessary units as well as the two vaccine manufacturers in order to administer the vaccinations in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Both vaccine makers must meet domestic and international demand for their products in order to comply with quality and quantity standards. It is also important to have a plan in place for dealing with any unforeseen dangers that may arise during the vaccination drive. In addition, they will outline recommendations for communities on technical criteria and the selection of vaccinated pigs. 

As part of the quality control process, vaccine manufacturers are required to submit a minimum of 10 consecutive batches of vaccinations to the National Center for Veterinary Drugs and Bio-Products Control No 1.

In addition to coordinating with U.S. specialists on vaccine development for various pig breeds and age groups and conducting efficacy evaluations, the Department of Animal Health will also give assistance to communities and enterprises in vaccine usage and quality control.

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