Vietnam to send its swine fever vaccine to Philippines

HANOI, Vietnam - Vietnam will send 150,000 doses of its African swine fever vaccine to the Philippines on Thursday, state media said, although it has not yet been approved internationally. The illness -- which does not affect humans -- is highly contagious and fatal for pigs, and an outbreak is potentially devastating for the pork industry, experts say. The shipment of the vaccine, developed by AVAC Vietnam (AVAC), is part of 600,000 doses ordered by the Philippine government, Vietnam News Agency quoted the company's general director Nguyen Van Diep as saying. Vietnam approved two African swine fever vaccines for domestic use in July 2023, saying it was the first country to do so. But neither of the vaccines has been approved internationally. In October 2023, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) issued a statement warning veterinary authorities and the pig industry of the "risk from use of sub-standard vaccines". It did not specifically mention Vietnam. According to ...