THE vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF) would soon be available for commercial use in the Philippines.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), commercial trial for the vaccines would be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) two weeks from now.
After that, commercial distribution will follow, the DA added.
The DA expects the availability of the vaccines would stop the spread of ASF in the country.
“Malapit nang lumabas ‘yung approval sa vaccine for the swine,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said at the sidelines of Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFF) event in Calabayog City, Eastern Samar on Thursday.
“FDA and the DA are working very closely on this. Ang ganda ng teamwork namin,” Laurel added.
The DA Secretary described the vaccine is effective. “The vaccine from Vietnam really works. So, that solves our problem,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel said the DA aims to concentrate on checking imported goods entering the country.
“Kailangan i-check kasi I believe dati naman wala naman tayong ASF, wala naman tayong bird flu,” he said. “Dapat doon tayo sa gates nagbabantay and after that internal,” he added. Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the availability of anti-ASF vaccines would pave the way for the swine industry’s recovery. The industry suffered when it was hit by ASF, a highly contagious and deadly swine disease that can affect both farm-raised and feral (wild) pigs.
