Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) confirmed on 1 April that it has released another 20 000 doses of locally produced foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine to support ongoing vaccination efforts and strengthen animal health across the country. This comes on the back of growing calls from veterinary and industry bodies for government to expedite the formalisation of the Section 10 scheme which will provide for the preventive vaccination of livestock against FMD, which includes private veterinarian participation.
In his reaction to the ARC’s announcement, the minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen, said he welcomed the development. The minister said in a statement: “The restoration of production capacity at the ARC is well underway with an additional investment into expanding the existing capacity over the medium-term already afoot.
“Over time, this will progressively reduce reliance on imports and ensure sustainability of vaccine supply in line with the national disease management strategy. Vaccine availability is a crucial part of this strategy and we will do everything to make sure that there is enough vaccine to reach our target of 80% vaccination by year end.”
Scaling up local production
During the release of the first 12 900 doses on 6 February this year, the ARC set a target to produce 20 000 vaccine doses by the end of March 2026, as part of efforts to scale up local manufacturing capacity to meet national demand.
The ARC will continue producing additional weekly batches of approximately 20 000 doses of SAT1, SAT2 or SAT3 to support animal health and veterinary services. It noted, however, that while the current programme is to continue producing 20 000 doses of the SAT2 monovalent on a weekly basis, production will be adapted in line with prevailing circulating strains. In that regard, both vaccine composition and production timelines will be adjusted accordingly.
ARC president and CEO, Dr Litha Magingxa, said: “By expanding our manufacturing capacity, the ARC provides farmers and veterinary services with timely access to the vaccines needed to safeguard animal health and food security across the country,”.
The surge in local manufacturing, combined with strategic international partnerships, has led to increase in protected livestock, according to the statement. Since the initial release of the 12 900 doses ARC vaccine on 6 February, and the importation of one million units of Biogénesis Bagó vaccine from Argentina and 1,5 million from Dollvet in Turkey, over 1,7 million animals have been vaccinated up to 26 March 2026.
During April, an additional 3,5 million vaccine doses (1,5 million from Biogénesis Bagó and two million from Dollvet) will boost the vaccination efforts.
Section 10 scheme awaited
Meanwhile industry anxiously awaits the announcement of the Section 10 scheme relating to preventive vaccination against FMD. In a recent court case brought against the government by Sakeliga, Free State Agriculture, and the Southern African Agri-Initiative (Saai), the court ordered the state to promulgate and publish the intended scheme by no later than 17 April.
Read more here about the Section 10 scheme.
FMD information resources
More information regarding the FMD vaccination campaign and rollout is available at the following numbers and email addresses:
- Toll-gree FMD support line: 0860 246 640
- E-mail: FMDcommandcent@nda.gov.za
- FMD WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vags5R83gvWWZOhk9946
- FMD reporting system: fmd.nda.gov.za
