South Africa is set to embark on an ambitious national vaccination campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), with two million vaccine doses expected to be available by February 2026, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced this week.
The vaccination programme will prioritise five high-risk provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, and North West. A new mid-scale production facility is expected to contribute an additional 1.5 million doses to the national supply.
The Department of Agriculture has committed to implementing a comprehensive strategy aimed at vaccinating the entire national cattle herd. Officials say this will enable South Africa to apply to the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) for “freedom with vaccination” status – a designation critical for regaining access to lucrative international markets.
The initiative involves collaboration between Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and international partners from China and Argentina. These public-private partnerships are designed to ensure rapid, safe distribution of vaccines across the country’s farming regions.
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FMD, a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, has caused substantial economic losses to South Africa’s agricultural sector over the past six years. The disease does not affect humans but severely impacts livestock productivity and trade.
The Democratic Alliance has welcomed the initiative as a “game-changer” for the country’s beleaguered red meat sector, which has suffered significant disruption since major outbreaks began in 2019.
“This is a major breakthrough in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease,” said Beyers Smit, DA deputy spokesperson on agriculture, in a statement released on Wednesday. “It’s a game-changer for South Africa’s red meat industry and the farmers who feed the nation.”
The DA has called for swift implementation of the rollout alongside strict enforcement of containment measures and robust monitoring systems to prevent further spread.
“Rapid vaccination, strong surveillance, and strict traceability are essential to protect farmers, consumers, and export markets,” Smit said. “Minister Steenhuisen’s plan delivers all three.”
The vaccination campaign represents a critical step toward restoring international confidence in South African livestock products and securing the future of the country’s red meat industry, which supports thousands of farming families and related businesses nationwide.
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