Vietnam Introduced its African Swine Fever Vaccine to the Ukrainian Delegation
The trade mission of Ukraine to Asian countries, which took place from March 21 to March 31, 2026, concluded in Vietnam. During the visit, the Ukrainian delegation learned about the experiences of the region’s countries in combating African Swine Fever (ASF): the Philippines presented a comprehensive vaccination program, while Vietnam showcased its regulatory policy and effective ASF vaccine.
This is reported by AgroReview
Meeting with the Manufacturer of the World’s First ASF Vaccine
Ukrainian representatives visited AVAC Vietnam JSC – the company that developed the world’s first commercial vaccine against African Swine Fever called AVAC ASF LIVE. The trip was organized by meat processing plants that are part of the “Meat Industry Association,” in collaboration with the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSFSCP).
In 2019, Vietnam faced a massive outbreak of ASF genotype 2, similar to that which is prevalent in Ukraine and most European countries. Within six months, the virus led to the loss of over 6 million pigs, posing a serious challenge to the country’s food security.
The Ukrainian delegation was personally greeted by the company’s General Director and leading researcher, Dr. Van Dip, who holds a PhD from Japan and has over twenty years of experience in pig disease research and vaccine development. Last year, he was awarded a state prize of $120,000 for his achievements in creating the ASF vaccine.
“In 2019, Vietnam faced what Ukraine is still trying to ignore. African Swine Fever genotype 2 (the same one circulating in Ukraine and most European countries) destroyed over 6 million pigs in Vietnam in just half a year. For a country where pig farming is the foundation of food security, this was a strategic-scale blow.”
The Ukrainian delegation included the head of the SSFSCP, Serhiy Tkachuk, the director of the Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine, Ihor Lotskin, the advisor to the head of the SSFSCP, Oksana Osymachko, the director of the “Meat Industry Association,” Mykola Babenko, as well as representatives from leading meat processing enterprises in Ukraine.
Production Potential of AVAC and Vaccine Features
AVAC Vietnam JSC is part of the RTD group and has been operating in the market for 27 years, specializing in the production of veterinary vaccines since 2012. The company has a production complex covering 2.3 hectares in Hung Yen province, certified by the World Organisation for Animal Health – it is the first Vietnamese manufacturer with such status. The facility employs about 115 specialists, operates six production lines, and has three research divisions.
To date, AVAC has released 6 million doses of the ASF vaccine, of which 1 million have been exported. Among the company’s partners are representatives from 10 countries, including the Philippines (900,000 doses), Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Nigeria, and Ukraine (with LLC “Vetmarket” as the partner in Ukraine).
The AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine is intended for pigs aged four weeks and older and for sows. One dose provides protection for animals for five months with an effectiveness of over 80%. Trials have shown that within two weeks after vaccination, the protection level is about 60%, and from the fourth week to the fifth month, effectiveness reaches 100%. After this period, effectiveness gradually decreases, so the manufacturer recommends revaccination every five months.