DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. —Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday announced that it would roll out African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccines by September—but it would only be for government use first.
DA Secretary Francisco Laurel made the pronouncement after the Food and Drug Administration had already approved the use of the ASF vaccine.
READ: ASF vaccine out in two weeks, says DA
“The DA [now] has to bid it out. So, hopefully … by September ay ma-rollout na iyon at ma-vaccinate na iyong growers ng ating mga backyard (it will be rolled out and those growers in our backyards will be vaccinated),” he said in a public briefing.
According to Laurel, however, the process of limiting it to government use would take at least six months before proceeding to commercial rollout.
“But this is only for government use. Because basically, it will first be monitored for six months by the government,” said Laurel.
“After that, hopefully, if everything passed and everything is okay, it will be for commercial use,” he added.
Laurel previously said that the availability of the vaccine will be able to address the spread of ASF in the country.