African Swine Fever (ASF) remains one of the most significant threats to the global pork industry. Over the last decade, the disease has surged from Sub-Saharan Africa into Asia, Europe and the Caribbean, devastating pig populations and undermining the livelihoods of millions of producers. To protect these operations, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) has officially adopted the first international guidelines for the field evaluation and post-vaccination monitoring of ASF vaccines.
Led by scientists from The Pirbright Institute and City University of Hong Kong, these guidelines fill a critical gap in how “real-world” vaccine performance is measured.
A Coordinated Approach
ASF has spread rapidly over a decade from Sub-Sahara Africa to Asia, Europe and parts of the Caribbean, threatening food security and undermining livelihoods.
While several South East Asian countries have recently granted regulatory approval to live attenuated virus (LAV) vaccines, monitoring their performance remains a challenge. LAV vaccines are complex; they use a weakened version of the virus to stimulate immunity, which requires stringent oversight to ensure they do not revert to a more virulent form or cause unintended shedding in a field setting.
“The need for reliable field data on vaccine safety and performance under field conditions has become increasingly urgent,” says Dr. Georgina Limon-Vega, group leader in applied epidemiology at The Pirbright Institute.
Key Requirements for Transparency and Safety
To ensure consistency across different regions, the new guidelines recommend a rigorous framework for any nation considering vaccine rollout.
Key requirements include:
Independent Oversight:
Evaluations should be conducted by an advisory committee with no financial or professional conflicts of interest regarding vaccine production or distribution.
Expert Analysis:
Programs should involve epidemiologists and statisticians experienced in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and pharmacovigilance.
Regional Alignment:
Vaccination should not be a standalone solution but must be integrated into national or regional prevention and control objectives.
Stakeholder Collaboration:
Success depends on data transparency and cooperation between the public sector, private industry, and international regulatory bodies.
Moving Forward
The guidelines provide a practical, adaptable tool for veterinary services and regulatory authorities. By generating “real-world” evidence on safety and efficacy, these standards aim to support informed regulatory decisions and more effective vaccination programs globally.
“The practical framework can be tailored to local epidemiological and production contexts, reinforcing the importance of aligning vaccination strategies with other control measures,” adds Limon-Vega.
