Hanoi (VNA) ꩵ– The Vietnamese biotechnology firm, AVAC Vietnam JSC, on June 9 exported its first batch of AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine to Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to bring its domestically developed African swine fever (ASF) vaccine to the international market.

The shipment comprises 120,000 doses. The vaccine received official approval for use from Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture on April 23, following nearly three years of assessment. Indonesian company PT Biotis Prima Agrisindo, based in West Java, will act as the importer and distributor. Nguyen Van Diep, General Director of the AVAC Vietnam JSC, hailed the export as a testament to the vaccine’s superior quality, having passed Indonesia’s rigorous regulatory review. "This achievement not only reflects the success of the AVAC Vietnam JSC but also represents a significant step forward for Vietnam’s veterinary vaccine sector, demonstrating its global competitiveness through scientific and technological capacity," he said. According to Le Toan Thang, Head of the Veterinary Drug and Vaccine Management Division under the Department of Animal Health, the successful export underscores the effectiveness of vaccines produced by Vietnam in general, and by the AVAC Vietnam JSC in particular, in preventing ASF outbreaks. "Vietnam’s ability to control the disease effectively further validates the vaccine’s reliability and strengthens its prospects for wider international adoption," he added. Before export, veterinary vaccines must undergo independent assessment, testing, and trials in the destination country. Only upon meeting local regulatory standards are import and distribution licences granted. Thang also revealed that Vietnam’s veterinary authorities are collaborating with technical bodies to expand trials and registration of ASF vaccines for breeding pigs, including sows. Preliminary results suggest the vaccine is both safe and effective, though full regulatory evaluation is still pending. To date, the AVAC Vietnam JSC has supplied over 3.5 million doses of AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine to the market. Of these, approximately 3 million have been administered in Vietnam, playing a vital role in controlling ASF outbreaks. An additional 500,000 doses have been exported to the Philippines and Nigeria, receiving positive feedback. AVAC ASF LIVE is the world’s first commercially available live attenuated vaccine against African swine fever. Developed and produced entirely in Vietnam by the AVAC Vietnam JSC, the vaccine represents a breakthrough in veterinary biotechnology, showcasing the country’s scientific capabilities and affirming its position on the global animal health map. Currently, Vietnam has three licensed producers of ASF vaccines: AVAC Vietnam JSC, Navetco National Veterinary JSC, and Dabaco Group./.