Authorities have reported that unauthorized vaccines for bird flu and African swine fever (ASF) are being smuggled into the country in unconventional ways. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) disclosed that these vaccines are being concealed in small tumblers, plastic glasses, and other makeshift containers with dry ice as a preservative, coming from Vietnam and nearby Asian countries.
In a letter to Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, BAI OIC-director Enrico Miguel Capulong raised concerns about the influx of these unauthorized vaccines, warning of potential animal disease outbreaks as a result. Capulong emphasized the need for coordinated efforts at border control to prevent the entry and use of these vaccines, citing the detrimental impact they could have on the economy.
Customs personnel have been directed to work closely with the BAI to identify and intercept shipments containing smuggled vaccines during inspections. District collectors and other relevant personnel have been instructed to enforce stricter measures to prevent the entry of these unauthorized vaccines into the country, with penalties imposed for non-compliance.
Experts have cautioned against the use of unauthorized vaccines, as they may lead to the mutation of disease viruses and reduce the effectiveness of authorized vaccines. The absence of a commercially available ASF vaccine has hindered the repopulation of hogs in the Philippines, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assuring hog raisers that an ASF vaccine is expected to be approved by regulators within the year.
