In May 2025, the World Assembly of WOAH Delegates adopted the first international standards for the production of safe and effective ASF vaccines. WOAH is urging vaccine manufacturers and member countries to take these standards into account when developing and assessing ASF vaccine candidates for regulatory approval.
The organization stresses the importance of using only high-quality ASF vaccines that:
- Comply with the standards described in the WOAH Terrestrial Manual,
- Have demonstrated efficacy and safety,
- Undergo regulatory evaluation and approval by the relevant National Regulatory Authority.
WOAH also highlights that vaccination alone is not sufficient to control the disease. Regardless of vaccine efficacy, immunization must be part of a broader disease prevention and control strategy that includes:
- Surveillance for early detection,
- Strict biosecurity measures,
- Import regulations,
- Animal movement controls.
Vaccination programs must be well-designed, tailored to the local epidemiological situation, and supported by adequate technical, financial, and human resources. They should always include post-vaccination monitoring and a clearly defined exit strategy, as outlined in WOAH's international vaccination standards.
WOAH also warns of the dangers posed by poor-quality or non-compliant vaccines. These products may:
- Fail to protect animals from ASF,
- Spread vaccine viruses that can cause acute or chronic illness,
- Potentially recombine with field strains, leading to novel ASF variants that could evade detection and persist in the pig population.
To strengthen oversight and remove such dangerous products from circulation, WOAH encourages countries to report incidents involving substandard or falsified vaccines. This can be done via WOAH’s global alert system for substandard and falsified veterinary products (pilot VSAFE), in accordance with Recommendation 6 of Resolution No. 29, adopted in May 2025.
This step is critical to ensuring the effectiveness of vaccination programs and protecting global pig health and the swine industry from further threats.
woah.org