How to preserve and vaccinate against African swine fever

In order to focus on drastic, synchronous, controlled implementation and ensure vaccination against African swine fever according to technical procedures, achieving disease prevention effectiveness, minimizing risks during the vaccination process, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Hai Duong province recommends the following techniques for preserving, transporting and injecting African swine fever vaccine:

1. Origin of vaccine:Currently, Vietnam has 2 types of vaccines to prevent African swine fever, including Navet - Afsvac (NAVETCO Central Veterinary Medicine Joint Stock Company) and Avac Afslive vaccine (AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company) which have been registered and granted a circulation certificate. The vaccine is used to prevent African swine fever in healthy pigs from 4 weeks of age and older, with an immunity period of 5 months.

2. Vaccine storage and transportation

- Vaccines are stored at 2-8⁰C, avoid direct light; vaccine can be stored at minus temperature from -15⁰C to -20⁰C.

- During transportation, it must be kept in a styrofoam box with ice or dry ice and stored at a temperature of 2-8⁰C.

3. Vaccine preparation and dosage:

+How to mix vaccine:Reconstitute the freeze-dried vaccine with the manufacturer's diluent. Do not reconstitute the vaccine with other diluents.

- Check the vaccine vial and diluent vial before dilution, such as the condition of the vaccine vial and the expiry date.

- Use a syringe to draw 2-5ml from the diluent vial into the lyophilized vaccine vial, then shake well until the lyophilized vaccine pellet is completely dissolved, draw the dissolved vaccine into the diluent vial and shake well.

+Dosage: Inject a single dose of vaccine for each pig from 4 weeks of age and older (dose 2ml/pig); inject intramuscularly behind the ear base (2-3cm from the ear base).

Note. After the vaccine has been mixed, it must be used within 2 hours for vaccines produced by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company and within 4-5 hours for vaccines produced by Navetco Central Veterinary Medicine Joint Stock Company.

4. Some notes

- African swine fever vaccine is used to inject and actively immunize against African swine fever in healthy pigs, 4 weeks of age and older. Do not use to treat pigs that are weak, have a fever, or have chronic diseases; do not inject pregnant sows, nursing sows, or breeding boars.

- To enhance the resistance of pigs, Vitamin C can be used within 3 days before and 5 days after vaccination.

- Do not use cracked, discolored, or expired vaccine vials or vaccines that have not been stored properly.

- Tools used to mix and inject vaccines must be clean, sterile and free of detergents or disinfectants. Periodically change the needle during the vaccination process when moving to each cage.

- Depending on the individual, a small percentage of pigs may have unwanted reactions after vaccination. In such cases, farmers must immediately notify local authorities and veterinary staff for timely handling.

- Do not use 2 types of vaccines in the same pig or in the same farm or livestock facility..28 to 30 days before slaughter, people do not vaccinate.

Due to the complicated situation of African swine fever, in addition to vaccination, farmers must closely combine with care and regular disinfection of barns; absolutely do not allow strangers, vehicles and other animals into the livestock area to limit the spread of pathogens.