ASF vaccine proposed for widespread use and export

Positive test results 

At the conference on July 15 to evaluate the results of supervision on quality and usage of African swine fever (ASF) vaccines, representatives of the Department of Animal Health and businesses informed the results on a narrow scale with 2 vaccines: DTLCP NAVET-ASFVAC of NAVETCO National Veterinary Joint Stock Company (NAVETCO) and DTLCP AVAC ASF LIVE of AVAC Vietnam JSC (AVAC).

Phan Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health, said that the National Center for Veterinary Drugs Control I had conducted quality inspections of commercial production batches of ASF vaccines of NAVETCO. Test results showed that 6/6 batches met the requirements (testing sheet numbers: 22-VR-00274, 22VR-00273, 22-VR-00276, 23-VR-00284, 23-VR-00343 and 23-VR-0034).

From July 2022 to June 2023, NAVETCO supplied and coordinated with specialized agencies to supervise the implementation of NAVET-ASFVAC vaccination in 7 areas. Herd sizes varied from 50 pigs/household to 2,000 pigs/farm, in 132 facilities in 23 provinces and cities. The total injection dose was more than 47,000 doses, of which more than 29,000 doses were under supervision.

Regarding the 29,000 doses of vaccine under supervision, the recorded number of pigs that had reactions after one and two injections was 219 (accounting for 0.5%), of which 42 pigs had to be culled (accounting for 0.1%). Common manifestations of reactions 2-4 days after vaccination included some symptoms such as mild fever, decreased appetite, cough or diarrhea, then pigs returned to normal.

Thus, it can be seen that the vaccine is safe, the injected pigs grow and develop normally. Antibody test results after injection exceed an 85% rate for the first dose and 97% for the second dose. The average rate of both injections is more than 95%. Up to now, the total dose of DTLCP NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine that has been deployed has reached 7.9% of the plan.

Regarding the results of cooperation in testing the ASF vaccine NAVET-ASFVAC in the Dominican Republic, at the request of the country and with the consent of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Animal Health and NAVETCO sent a mission to support Dominica in deploying and testing the NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine from May 15 to June 19, 2023.

The mission coordinated with relevant agencies in the friend country to organize and implement the test for 459 doses (out of a total of 2,500 doses of DTLCP NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine supported by NAVETCO) at 3 livestock farms in La Vega province.

The test results showed that DTLCP NAVET-ASFVAC was safe and effective with all 459 experimental pigs. Based on the test results, the Dominican Republic proposed NAVETCO continue to support 2,500 more doses of DTLCP NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine for expanded injection in the near future.

As for AVAC ASF LIVE, to prepare for vaccination deployment, AVAC has produced 4 commercial batches of the ASF vaccine with a total of more than 3 million doses. The National Center for Veterinary Drugs Control I has inspected the quality of 4 batches of vaccines, and 4/4 batches are satisfactory (testing sheet numbers: 22-VR-00343, 22-VR-00465, 22-VR- 00444 and 22-VR-00442).

Considering the initial plan, AVAC ASF LIVE of AVAC has been monitored for quality, sterility, safety, and validity. 4/10 batches of vaccine are produced consecutively after being licensed for circulation.

Regarding the results of the pilot vaccination of 600,000 doses of vaccine on a small scale, from October 2022 to June 2023, AVAC has vaccinated more than 605,000 doses of swine vaccine in 596 farms and establishments of different sizes. in a total of 34 provinces and cities.

Supervised injections were carried out in facilities with less than 5,000 slaughter pigs. In total, more than 1,800 pigs were injected at 14 farms in 5 provinces of Bac Giang, Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Dong Thap and An Giang. Test results showed that vaccinated pigs had an antibody rate of 94.4%. Pigs were healthy, developed normally, and no vaccine-related abnormalities were detected. The total dose of DTLCP AVAC ASF LIVE deployed in field vaccination has reached more than 100% of the plan.

Regarding the results of cooperation in testing AVAC ASF LIVE in the Philippines, from February 2023, the Philippine Department of Animal Health has requested AVAC to coordinate and provide 1,000 doses of DTLCP AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine manufactured by the company. The Department of Agriculture of the Philippines has allowed units to actively coordinate and carry out pilot injections of the DTLCP AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine at 6 pig farms in the Luzon region. The trial results showed that the AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine was safe and effective for all 1,000 experimental pigs.

Based on obtained test results, the Department of Animal Health of the Philippines has proposed to the Philippine Government to officially allow the import and use of 300,000 doses of AVAC ASF LIVE to prevent ASF in the country.

Research to decide on the plan to put the ASF vaccine in mass production

Receiving proposals from businesses and considering the actual situation, the Department of Animal Health proposed the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development consider allowing the widespread use and export of DTLCP NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine of NAVETCO and DTLCP AVAC ASF LIVE of AVAC in two options.

Option one, NAVETCO and AVAC are only allowed to use and export batches of ASF vaccine produced by the companies after having satisfactory results on sterility, purity and safety and effectiveness on the tests conducted by the National Center for Veterinary Drugs Control I. Each company will continue to fully test at least 10 consecutively batches of vaccines.

Option two, NAVETCO and AVAC are allowed to use and export ASF vaccine and take the initiative to be responsible for quality testing of all vaccine batches produced. The two companies will actively continue to monitor the quality of vaccines supplied in the market, commit to taking responsibility for the quality of vaccines when supplied in the market, have a response plan, and be ready to overcome cases of unexpected risks when using vaccines.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc highly appreciated the efforts of businesses and scientists as pioneers in researching, creating and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of ASF vaccines. The successful research on ASF vaccine is a great scientific and technological achievement of Vietnam, which plays an important role not only in serving the development of the livestock industry in Vietnam but also in countries around the world.

According to the Deputy Minister, the units have taken very solid and strict evaluation steps. Therefore, in the near future, the Department of Animal Health needs to discuss with businesses and scientists to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles to put ASF vaccine into mass production while ensuring regulations.