MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is optimistic that the Philippines will soon see the commercial rollout of the African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine, with approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expected by the end of the year.
In a statement, DA spokesperson Undersecretary Arnel De Mesa shared that the FDA is on track to grant commercial approval for the ASF vaccine, which has so far only been available under a "monitored release" program. Currently, the vaccine is being administered exclusively by the government for targeted use on farms with ASF outbreaks.
“The FDA has approved the monitored release of the vaccine, which allows its use only by government agencies. Once the vaccine is granted full commercial approval, it will be available for use by private farms and the general public,” De Mesa explained.
Earlier this year, the government distributed 10,000 doses of the vaccine to farms in Batangas, where it expects the full supply to be used by the third week of November. The DA has also extended the vaccination program to both commercial and semi-commercial farms in the area.
"We are optimistic that before the year ends, the FDA will approve the vaccine for broader use, allowing us to expand the vaccination program and help mitigate the spread of ASF," De Mesa added.
The ASF vaccine has been hailed as a crucial tool in combating the devastating impact of ASF on the Philippine swine industry, which has led to significant losses for local farmers. With the vaccine's potential commercial availability, the DA hopes to support the recovery and stabilization of the sector.