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Completing the vaccination of 80% of the national cattle herd by the end of the year and achieving FMD-free without vaccination status within ten years – that is the aim of the recently announced foot-and-mouth (FMD) eradication strategy of the minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen.
Is this achievable? Very much so, according to role-players, provided that everyone does their part speedily and efficiently.
A phased roll-out
The minister’s plan consists of four phases. Phase 1 (years 1 and 2) is the so-called stabilisation phase consisting of intensive mass vaccination in high-risk hotspots in provinces. The goal is to reduce the incidence of outbreaks by 70% within the first year.
The second phase is a consolidation phase, from year 2 to 4, aimed at establishing secure buffer zones and certified ‘compartments’ to protect disease-free provinces such as the Western and Northern Cape, allowing for the resumption of safe international trade. This phase will conclude with an application to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) for the status of ‘FMD-free with vaccination’.
Phases 3 and 4 will be the recovery phases and will last from years 4 to 10. The aim will be the gradual withdrawal of vaccination in specific zones, and applying for formal recognition of FMD-free status without vaccination from the WOAH.
Phase 1 goals
Concerning the mass vaccination drive during phase 1, the minister pointed out that the goal is to reduce outbreak incidents by 70% within the first year in the high-risk provinces. High risk zones will be targeted first and entail communal areas, feedlots, and dairy operations. In addition, FMD-free provinces will be isolated and protected through buffer vaccination and strict movement controls.
High-quality vaccines with high potency will be used during the campaign, he said. These vaccines will be procured from three suppliers, among which Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina. The others are the Dollvet vaccine from Turkey, and Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) from Botswana.
Many questions have been asked about the availability of the vaccines – when will it arrive, how will it be distributed and administered, and the like. The procurement status of the different vaccines, their efficacy, and importation information is described below and based on information provided by Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) as well as vaccine suppliers.
Dollvet vaccine from Turkey
This is an oil-based vaccine that affords protection for six months. The vaccine does not need a booster vaccination to be effective but should be administered every six months.
Dunevax Biotech is the importer and distribution agent for this vaccine in South Africa. The first 1,5 million doses of this trivalent vaccine (SAT 1, 2 and 3 strains) are expected in the country by mid-February. According to Dunevax Biotech’s CEO, Dr David Gerber, Dunevax has already submitted a Section 21 Permit application to import an additional six million doses to avoid a break in the supply line. If the Section 21 and Veterinary Import Permits are granted in the coming week (week starting 2 February), this second vaccine batch can be landed in South Africa by mid-March.
He says Dollvet can produce 15 million doses of trivalent FMD vaccine per month.
Biogénesis Bagó
Until recently, local company Design Biologix would have acted as the importer and distribution agent for vaccines from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina. However, this relationship was terminated. This is a developing story that Plaas Media will report on soon.
Botswana Vaccine Institute
Until very recently the BVI vaccine was the only approved vaccine for import to South Africa. The BVI vaccine is a water-based vaccine that requires a booster vaccination after three to four weeks, and then provides protection for three to four months. It is therefore more suited for use in a ‘vaccinate to kill’ strategy such as in feedlots.
BVI will supply 700 000 doses of vaccine by 1 March 2026.
Locally produced vaccines
Locally produced vaccines should be available by March. Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) should be able to initially supply 20 000 doses per month. According to the minister, however, the ARC is bringing its production forward and will be able to supply 12 000 doses to the vaccine pool by mid-February.
Distribution and logistics
RMIS points out that the plan for distribution and application of the vaccines is currently being prepared by the Ministerial Task Team for approval. Because FMD is a state controlled disease, all vaccine distribution must be regulated by the Directorate of Animal Health.
According to Dr Gerber, Dunevax is equipped to distribute FMD vaccines in South Africa and maintain the cold chain to approved distribution centres and depots with cool room facilities and backup power.
“Dunevax delivers bulk vaccines (in boxes with 4 000 doses per box) to any approved facility in South Africa with cool room facilities and backup power at R45,00 (excl VAT) per dose. This price is only valid for MOQs (minimal order quantities) of entire boxes of 4 000 doses per box. The price includes cold storage and cold chain delivery to anywhere in the country.”
Dunevax, he emphasises, will deliver vaccines only in accordance with instructions from the minister of agriculture, and has requested close collaboration with his office to ensure a smooth supply process across the country.
“We assume that instructions from the minister and the Directorate of Animal Health will be in line with priorities defined by the Ministerial Task Team and the newly appointed industry coordination committee.”
Applying for vaccination
Now for the million-dollar question: How does an individual producer apply for their herd to be vaccinated?
According to RMIS CEO, Dewald Olivier, the first crucial step is to obtain a GLN (global location number), which is your registered location. This can be done, among others, through the RMIS traceability platform. The next step is to lodge an application through an industry body, such as the Red Meat Producer’s Organisation (RPO), Milk Producer’s Organisation (MPO) or South African Pork Producer’s Organisation (Sappo).
“RMIS will create a page on the RMIS website where applications can be lodged. However, in the meanwhile, the respective industry bodies should be used to lodge applications.”
According to Dr Gerber vaccines can also be requested on Buffalo & Livestock Analytics’ system, which was developed in collaboration with Dunevax. Farmers can request vaccines for their animals, which are then allocated to his private veterinarian, who will request the provincial state vet to allocate the requested vaccine doses. – Izak Hofmeyr, Plaas Media
