THE Department of Agriculture hailed the Food and Drug Administration’s approval for commercial use of the country’s first vaccine against avian influenza—a disease that has significantly harmed the poultry industry and poses risks to public health—as a major boost to the sector and the government’s food security goal.
“With the FDA’s approval of Volvac B.E.S.T. AI plus ND, the poultry sector now has a strong line of defense against a virus that threatens both food security and human health,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said at a news conference held Tuesday to announce the AI vaccine’s availability to the public.
He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa and FDA Director General (DG) Paolo Teston and the agency’s personnel “for shepherding the long-awaited approval of the vaccine with dedication and competence.”
“The DA, DOH and FDA have always worked closely to ensure that only safe and effective livestock vaccines reach our market. Under DG Teston’s leadership, we are confident that more initiatives will be done in terms of livestock vaccines and medicines that could further strengthen our livestock sector and contribute to our food security,” Tiu Laurel said.
“We are pursuing a whole-of-government approach as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to bolster our agricultural productivity, ensure food safety, and protect the livelihoods of Filipinos in the livestock sector,” Tiu Laurel added.
The vaccine not only provides immunity against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 but also stimulates the bird’s immune system to defend against velogenic Newcastle disease.
H5N1 is the most aggressive subtype of the bird flu virus, causing high mortality rates in chickens. It is also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans and other animals.
Velogenic Newcastle disease, meanwhile, is the most severe form of Newcastle disease. Highly contagious and often fatal, it affects a wide range of bird species, especially domestic poultry.
Volvac B.E.S.T. is administered by injection, either into the bird’s chest muscle or into subcutaneous fat. It is given when the bird is at least 10 days old. As with most first-time vaccinations, it takes 10 to 14 days for full immunity to develop.
The value of production of the poultry sector in 2024, including eggs, stood at P362 billion, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
At the same time, Sec Tiu Laurel congratulated DG Teston on his first 100 days in office and hoping for the smooth collaboration between DA and FDA.
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