Introduction to the Guidelines for African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccines
As African swine fever continues to spread across borders, threaten pig production systems, and disrupt safe trade, the availability of reliable, evidence-based tools for vaccine deployment has become increasingly urgent. To support the practical application of newly published international guidance, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) will host a virtual webinar on June 30, 2026, titled Introduction to the Guidelines for African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccines: Field Evaluation and Post-Vaccination Monitoring.
The session will bring together the consultant experts who developed the guidelines — representing The Pirbright Institute and the Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice at City University of Hong Kong — to present the document and discuss with selected WOAH Members how it can be implemented in practice.
About the Guidelines
WOAH recently published the Guidelines for African Swine Fever Vaccines: Field Evaluation and Post-Vaccination Monitoring, developed to help Members generate and assess the evidence needed for sound vaccination decisions. The guidelines address the full cycle of vaccine use in the field, from study design and implementation to post-vaccination monitoring and benefit–risk assessment. Practical tools are included, such as sample size calculators and recording form templates, to help users apply the guidance directly in operational settings.
The guidelines emphasize that ASF vaccination is not a standalone solution. Vaccine deployment must be integrated into broader prevention and control strategies — including biosecurity, surveillance, and movement controls — and adapted to local epidemiological conditions. WOAH stresses that only high-quality vaccines manufactured in accordance with international standards should be used, and that regulatory approval status varies by country.
Key Technical Areas
The document covers several interconnected areas critical to responsible vaccine use:
Field trial design and evaluation — The guidelines walk users through case definitions, study design selection, randomisation, data collection, and validated laboratory testing, with worked examples where available, to ensure that field evaluations yield reliable, decision-grade evidence.
Post-vaccination monitoring — A dedicated three-step framework supports countries in establishing and sustaining monitoring systems, including defining expected side effects, setting up reporting channels, and periodically evaluating and revising the programme. Pharmacovigilance to detect adverse events is addressed throughout.
Genomic surveillance — Whole genome sequencing, where feasible, is recommended to detect potential reversion to virulence or recombination events over time.
Data sharing and transparency — The guidelines underscore that ASF is a transboundary disease, and that evidence generated through field trials should be shared across countries, consistent with the principles of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. WOAH has committed to facilitating connections between Members and relevant Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres.
Relevance to Animal and Public Health Security Professionals
ASF has significant implications beyond animal health, affecting food security, rural livelihoods, national economies, and international trade. For professionals working at the intersection of veterinary public health, biosecurity, and One Health — including Veterinary Services, competent authorities, regulatory bodies, and policy advisors — this webinar offers direct access to the technical experts behind a major new international reference document. The discussion of field evaluation methodology, pharmacovigilance frameworks, and the integration of vaccination into broader control strategies is relevant to any professional engaged in transboundary animal disease preparedness and response.
The guidelines document is available at the WOAH website: Guidelines for African Swine Fever Vaccines: Field Evaluation and Post-Vaccination Monitoring.
For more information and to register, please visit 260630 Introduction to the Guidelines for African swine fever (ASF) vaccines.