AVAC refutes 'fake news' by a Philippine newspaper about African swine fever vaccine from Vietnam

The article on Rappler, Philippines, is refuted by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company for citing incorrect information and lack of basis. Photo: Linh Linh.

Have not exported a single dose of AVAC ASF Vaccine to Indonesia

   Accordingly, on August 20th, Rappler, a Philippines news site, published an article saying the vaccination of African swine fever vaccine produced by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company, which caused the death of a large number of pigs at PT Indo Tirta Suaka farm on Pulau Bulan island, Indonesia. 

   "At the peak of the outbreak around mid-April, up to 2,000 pigs had been dying each day and the farm’s total herd size was already being devastated.  A similar situation was happening in other pig-producing areas on the islands of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi. Given the dire condition of these farms, many farm owners decided to gamble on their animals’ health by buying Vietnam’s AVAC ASF live vaccine from suppliers", said Rappler.

   Rappler also cited an unverified source that after 6 weeks of vaccination, "mortality inside the Pulau Bulan farm rose sharply until only a fifth, or 20% of its herd’s population, was left". The newspaper quoted some pig experts at the farm as saying that the cause of pig deaths originated from vaccination that caused the pigs to shed, thereby increasing the likelihood of spreading the African swine fever virus within the herd.

   In addition, vaccination also makes pigs susceptible to other diseases and increases Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). Rappler also stated that the vaccination of AVAC caused pig deaths, resulting in millions of USD in losses for PT Indo Tirta Suaka farm.

   Furthermore, the news site also expressed some subjective opinions about the relationship between AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Corporation and KPP Powers Commodites Inc (Philippines), as well as the quality of the African swine fever vaccine produced by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Corporation.

   In an official statement released by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Corporation, it condemns under the strongest terms possible the article on Rappler in the Philippines and Online last 20 August 2023. It affirmed that the article clearly contains "fake news" because it has not, "as of 20 August 2023, exported and delivered even a single shot of our AVAC ASF Vaccine to Indonesia". 

   AVAC Vietnam also requests Rappler to take down the "malicious article from circulation and urge Philippine authorities to investigate the author thereof". 

   In response to the groundless information from Rappler, on August 21st, Mr. Nguyen Van Diep, General Director of AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company, officially sent a letter to Ms. Pinky Pe Tobiano, CEO of KPP Powers Commodites Inc, affirming that until now, AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company has not exported any doses of African swine fever vaccine to Indonesia.

   "Up to now, my partner in Indonesia and I are still discussing the registration of the vaccine, and we have never delivered any doses of African swine fever vaccine to Indonesia, until August 20th, 2023. Therefore, there is no basis for the author of the article on the news site regarding the situation of the farms in Indonesia damaged by AVAC's African swine fever vaccine," Mr. Diep emphasized several times in the letter.

   KPP Powers Commodites Inc (Philippines) also issued a statement exposing and condemning the unreasonable article on Rappler related to AVAC's African swine fever vaccine by author Fermin M. Diaz. The company cited and reaffirmed the words of Mr. Nguyen Van Diep, General Director of AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company, that the African swine fever vaccine AVAC has never been transported to Indonesia.

   In addition, Mr. Diep also confirmed to KPP Powers that this vaccine has not been sold or delivered to any farm named "PT Indo Tirta Suaka", as mentioned in the article on Rappler.

   Moreover, the article also argues that the claim that PT Indo Tirta Suaka farm suffered millions of USD in losses due to AVAC's vaccine is "totally unbelievable" because to this date, no such multi-million dollar claim, much more a lawsuit has been brought to the attention of AVAC.

AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine, researched and produced by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company, has been used for vaccination in pig herds and cautiously evaluated in the Philippines. Photo: Linh Linh.

Affirming the effectiveness of the AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine

   KPP Powers Commodites Inc company reiterates the effectiveness of the African swine fever vaccine produced by a Vietnamese company, while also refuting the implications of the article regarding the licensing of AVAC's African swine fever vaccine.

   "In reality, AVAC tested the vaccines in over 500 farms in Vietnam, including CP farms in Vietnam, with a result of a 95% rate of successfully providing immunity from ASF. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Vietnam oversaw and closely monitored the use of the vaccine, and has recommended mass vaccination in Vietnam. As recently as August 15-16, 2023, AVAC ASF vaccination drives witnessed by MARD representatives have been going on in more than 30 Vietnam farms. It would be improbable for a country like Vietnam, which has proven itself to be an economic success, to subject its own people to more problems if the MARD has not proven that the vaccine is effective and not dangerous," stated KPP Powers Commodities company.

   Mr. Nguyen Van Diep mentioned that on August 15th, AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company organized a delegation together with KPP Powers Commodites Inc - Philippines to visit actual pig farms for testing the African swine fever vaccine in Dan Phuong district, Hanoi. If the results are positive, they plan to apply mass vaccination on a large scale with the support of the government. Thus, the amount of imported African swine fever vaccine into the Philippines from Vietnam will significantly increase.

   Previously, Mrs. Pinky Pe Tobiano, CEO of KPP Powers Commodites Inc, discussed the recent collaborative relationship with AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company.

   The company has secured exclusive distribution rights for AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company's African swine fever vaccine, as it has been certified and allowed for export by the Vietnamese government.

   AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine from AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company has been used for pig vaccination and cautiously evaluated in the Philippines. The competent authority in the Philippines has announced that the vaccine evaluation results are safe, and 100% of pigs vaccinated with the AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine have developed immune antibodies.

   Currently, the competent authorities in the Philippines are urging Filipino companies to expedite the completion of import registration procedures for AVAC's African swine fever vaccine from Vietnam.

Monitoring results have shown that the AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine is safe for pigs vaccinated on all farms and has a good immune response. Photo: Linh Linh.

   According to the independent assessment by a team of experts from the United States Department of Agriculture in April-May 2023 based on research, production, testing, examination, licensing, circulation, and use monitoring of the vaccine in Vietnam, it has confirmed that the research and production results of Vietnam's African swine fever vaccine are comparable to those of the United States.

   The organization of assessment and quality control for the AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine's sterility, safety, and effectiveness in Vietnam aligns with international standards, including the vaccine quality assessment standards developed by scientists and submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE/WOAH) for consideration and approval.

   In July 2023, 300,000 doses of AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine from AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company were officially imported into the Philippines by KPP Powers Commodites Inc, opening up new opportunities for livestock farmers in the country to combat African swine fever. Prior to this, AVAC Company also collaborated on testing the AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine in the Philippines.

   The Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry requested AVAC Company to cooperate and provide 1,000 doses of the vaccine. The trial results demonstrated that the AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine is safe and effective for all 1,000 trial pigs that were vaccinated.

   KPP Powers Commodites Inc-Philippines is a company specializing in the import and distribution of feed additives and supplements for livestock and poultry farming.

In 2022, the Philippine online newspaper Rappler, founded by journalist Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was ordered to cease operations by the government. On June 29, the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (PSEC) announced that it was upholding the decision to revoke Rappler's operating license due to violations of foreign ownership regulations. According to CNN, PSEC revoked Rappler's operating license in 2018, but the online newspaper continued to operate.