South Africa is set to receive its first consignment of one million high-potency Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine doses from Biogénesis Bagó this week-end, providing urgent relief to Provinces hardest hit by recent outbreaks.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said the shipment marks the initial phase of a wider vaccination strategy, with an additional five million doses expected in March 2026.
The campaign aims to protect the national herd of over 14 million cattle and transition the country to “FMD-Free Status with Vaccination”.
The vaccine rollout includes contributions from international and local partners. The Botswana Vaccine Institute has already supplied two million doses, and Dollvet, via its local agent Dunevax, will also contribute.
Locally, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) produced 12,900 doses in early February and plans to scale weekly production from 20,000 doses to 200,000 by 2027. By the end of March, over five million doses from the three suppliers are expected to be in the country.
Minister Steenhuisen emphasised the critical role of farmers in safeguarding national food security and foreign revenue. He called for strict adherence to movement controls and biosecurity measures to protect the broader herd.
To expand vaccination capacity, private veterinarians can now register to administer vaccines under the Animal Diseases Act, supporting the goal of vaccinating 80% of the national herd by December 2026.
Support for farmers has been strengthened with the launch of a dedicated FMD Control Centre and toll-free support line from 18 February: 0860 246 640. The service provides guidance on symptoms, movement permits, vaccine availability, and farm biosecurity. A WhatsApp channel also delivers regular updates.
Strict quarantine and movement restrictions apply to all properties with suspected or confirmed FMD cases. Minister Steenhuisen noted that Disease Management Areas (DMAs) may be declared for unfenced or non-compliant sites, grouping epidemiologically linked premises under unified movement controls.