The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has made a further 70 000 doses of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine available for purchase on the local market, says Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS).

By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

This news comes after it emerged that the government’s supply of the FMD vaccine has been completely depleted. The Department of Agriculture confirmed this to African Farming earlier this week, adding that new orders have been placed and that vaccines could possibly be available as soon as next week.

Also read: FMD vaccines | ‘We’re out of stock but some may arrive soon’ – government

According to Olivier, the BVI indicated earlier this week that it has about 70 000 FMD doses available that the South African government could buy.

He says that from the previous consignment of 644 000 doses, which the private sector was allowed to buy, some private buyers have already made part of their stock available to others in urgent need – either as donations or at cost price.

Earlier this year, RMIS reached an agreement with the government to allow part of the imported vaccine stock to be sold to the private sector. Olivier explained that some private sector buyers obtained doses as a form of insurance.

“They may only access the vaccine if an FMD outbreak occurs in their area or on their properties,” he says.

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