Vietnam's 120,000 ASF vaccine doses transported to Indonesia

Affirming Vietnam's veterinary vaccine's position on the global map 

The initial shipment of AVAC's African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine (AVAC ASF LIVE), which consisted of 120,000 doses, was officially exported to Indonesia on the morning of June 9 in Hung Yen. This was a significant milestone in the internationalization of Vietnamese veterinary vaccines.

AVAC ASF LIVE was authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia under Decision No. 3693/KPTS/PK.350/FI.04/2025 dated April 23, 2025, following nearly three years of registration and regulatory procedures. The vaccine will be imported and disseminated by PT. Biotis Prima Agrisindo, which is situated at Kp. Curug RT.04RW.004, Curug, Gunung Sindur Kab. Bogor, West Java, 16340, Indonesia.

Indonesia has become the third country to officially authorize the use of AVAC ASF LIVE, following the Philippines and Vietnam. This is the first live attenuated ASF vaccine to be effectively developed and commercialized worldwide, and it was researched and produced by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company. This achievement not only confirms Vietnam's position in the global veterinary vaccine industry but also demonstrates the country's sophisticated scientific and technological capabilities.

Dr. Nguyen Van Diep, the General Director of AVAC Vietnam, has stated that the company has supplied over 3.5 million doses of AVAC ASF LIVE to the market, with approximately 3 million doses being used domestically. This has made a substantial contribution to the nationwide endeavor to control ASF.

Furthermore, nearly 500,000 doses have been exported to Nigeria and the Philippines, and both markets have responded favorably.

“The product is currently in the process of registration in a number of other countries, such as India, Malaysia, Nepal, and Myanmar,” Dr. Diep stated. "AVAC maintains a reserve of approximately 1.5 million doses, which are prepared for emergency deployment, in order to satisfy both domestic and international demand".

He underscored that the vaccine's exceptional quality has been confirmed by the successful export of the initial sample of AVAC ASF LIVE to Indonesia, which surpassed Indonesia's rigorous evaluation and licensing process. This milestone not only signifies a significant advancement for Vietnam's veterinary vaccine industry, but also represents a breakthrough for AVAC. It represents their capacity to compete on a global scalibewle by leveraging indigenous science and technology.

AVAC ASF LIVE: High safety and clear effectiveness

Nevertheless, AVAC leaders recognized eight critical factors that have prevented the widespread adoption of ASF vaccines, such as AVAC ASF LIVE, in the domestic market. These include consumer skepticism regarding new, locally-produced vaccines, safety concerns, and confusion relating to vaccine strains, the circulation of low-quality, untraceable vaccines, and the current licensing status, which allows for their use exclusively in fattening pigs.

Other challenges include weak protection against genotype 1/2 strains due to improper usage, higher costs compared to other vaccines, limited government subsidies, inadequate media coverage, and a lack of standardized ASF vaccine criteria from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Dr. Diep recommended that the vaccine be administered exclusively to clinically healthy pigs aged four weeks or older and should not be used in conjunction with other live attenuated ASF vaccines on the same animal. Additionally, it should not be administered to pigs that have been previously infected with agricultural strains of ASF.

Dr. Diep noted that in Vietnam, AVAC ASF LIVE has been widely administered in pig farms across many provinces, including Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Quang Ngai, and Tra Vinh, with support from local government budgets. Field results indicate that the vaccine has a strong safety profile and delivers noticeable effectiveness, with no recurrence of the disease following vaccination.

Currently, AVAC ASF LIVE is being further evaluated for official use in breeding pigs (sows and boars), which could potentially enable more comprehensive protection for Vietnam’s swine industry.

Vietnam currently has 12 veterinary vaccine manufacturers, which produce over 200 vaccine types, according to Mr. Le Toan Thang. These products are currently being prepared for export and are designed to address the disease prevention requirements of indigenous livestock and poultry.

Since 2022, AVAC ASF LIVE has been officially approved for nationwide use in Vietnam, following extensive licensing, quality testing, and field trials. It has initially exhibited a high level of efficacy in the prevention and management of ASF.

The Vietnamese ASF vaccine's importation into Indonesia presents a valuable opportunity to enhance the global reputation of Vietnam's veterinary vaccine industry.