10,000 ASF Vaccine Doses to Arrive in Batangas Amid Calamity Declaration

BATANGAS — The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed the imminent arrival of 10,000 doses of African swine fever (ASF) vaccines for Batangas, scheduled for delivery on August 16, as the province battles a significant outbreak of the virus.

According to Philippines News Agency, the vaccines, procured under emergency measures, are a response to the recent state of calamity declaration by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Batangas due to ASF’s spread in several areas including Calatagan, Lian, Lipa City, and others. This Friday’s vaccine arrival will kickstart a controlled vaccination initiative across the affected zones. “We are expecting next week, start na iyong controlled vaccination dito sa Batangas,” De Mesa explained in an interview, emphasizing the urgent response to curb the outbreak.

Further detailing the response, De Mesa announced the creation of an independent technical advisory group comprising scientists, veterinarians, and academic professionals to oversee and evaluate the vaccination efforts. This group will provide ongoing assessments and recommendations to both the DA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the progression and potential expansion of the vaccination program.

In addition to vaccine deployment, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has intensified biosecurity measures, establishing multiple inspection points across Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. These checkpoints aim to monitor and ensure compliance with health regulations for meat and poultry products, particularly to protect the ongoing repopulation programs in Central Luzon from the risk of infection from the south.