The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) is busy manufacturing 2 million foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine doses for South Africa.
By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
South Africa placed an order for 2 million vaccine doses with the BVI, which are expected to start arriving in the country from this month. The Department of Agriculture expects the vaccination campaign to gain momentum by January 2026.
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen says the plan to tackle the country’s FMD outbreak has been finalised, and a key part of it is vaccinating the national herd. As announced, the department is following a phased approach in terms of the plan – more details on further implementation will be shared soon.
“We are investigating the concern that has been raised about directors of veterinary services and animal health who are allegedly ‘blocking’ the recommendations of the plan,” Steenhuisen says.
This issue came to light after Dr Dirk Verwoerd, chief veterinarian at Karan Beef, indicated – according to a report in Rapport – that the implementation of the plan is being “blocked” by these directors. Verwoerd is one of 30 members of the ministerial task team appointed by Steenhuisen in September.
Also read: FMD | The battle can be won – Karan vet
More Vaccines on the Way?
Steenhuisen says from February 2026 the BVI will deliver 1 million vaccine doses per month to South Africa.
“In addition to the vaccine imported from Botswana, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has developed a vaccine that will also be used once it becomes available,” Steenhuisen says. “This vaccine has now completed its final testing stages. Production will begin in the first quarter of 2026. It is a single-dose vaccine, not a two-dose vaccine like the one we are currently using from Botswana.”
WATCH | FMD vaccination campaign: ‘It’s a 180° turnaround for industry’
Policy Shift
Steenhuisen says the policy change South Africa is adopting to address FMD follows the same model used by countries such as Brazil and Argentina. “It has become very clear that the efforts we have made so far are not working. People do not respect the disease-management areas. Animals are still moved despite restrictions. Animals are still being sold. Animals are still taken across boundaries. And it is impossible for us to block every road in the country to prevent this.”
The policy shift and vaccination campaign will allow South Africa to approach the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) for FMD-free status with vaccination.
This status will allow South Africa to export meat again, Steenhuisen says. Once the disease has been brought under control through national herd vaccination, the plan is to continue vaccinating only in the endemic regions, as FMD will always be present there because of the country’s buffalo population.
“Rolling out the national herd vaccination programme will require strong cooperation between the private sector and government,” he says.
Also read: FMD: Veterinarian urges farmers to work together
