Farmers welcome private-sector rollout as FMD vaccine consignments reach veterinarians

Private veterinary practices have begun receiving consignments of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine, a development industry leaders say widens access to protection for livestock after months of concern among farmers.

Private channel opens for vaccine distribution

Andrew Morphew, spokesperson for FMD Response SA, said the first consignments of vaccine from Dunevax, the South African agent for Türkiye’s Dollvet FMD vaccine, were moving this week to private veterinary practices. “It opened an important additional channel for getting vaccines into animals,” he said.

Morphew described the deliveries as real progress because they mean “more vaccines will reach farmers through more veterinarians.” He said the next priority is ensuring farmers and veterinarians receive up-to-date information about where FMD is circulating and which strains are being detected.

Calls for regular outbreak testing information

Morphew urged the department of agriculture to communicate the information it holds from outbreak testing so that those fighting FMD on the ground know what strains they are dealing with. “Government already has important information from outbreak testing. We are asking that it be communicated regularly and in a way that the people fighting FMD on the ground can use,” he said.

Farmers urged to stay vigilant

TLU chair Bennie van Zyl said farmers were relieved that private vaccine distribution can now occur within a regulated framework, but warned against irresponsible actions. “There are three strains in South Africa and while other strains elsewhere in the world are far more dangerous, we must be vigilant against introducing vaccines that contain these other strains,” he said.

Van Zyl noted that the vaccines South Africa is receiving come from Argentina and Türkiye. He also cautioned that vaccines do not guarantee immunity for every vaccinated animal and outlined a vaccination approach he said would be needed to push FMD back to its endemic zone: vaccinate across South Africa with a follow-up dose within six weeks and another after six months.

Government and industry expand coordination

Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp announced that, to date, 17 million vaccine doses had been imported into South Africa to support the national strategy. He also appointed Dr Theo de Jager and Dr Danie Odendaal to the Industry Coordination Council (ICC) during a recent FMD symposium.

Aucamp said the ICC’s terms of reference were expanded to place greater emphasis on the roll-out and practical implementation of the vaccination plan, including specific reference to farmers who are now allowed to vaccinate their own animals. “Dr De Jager and Dr Odendaal bring immense practical knowledge, leadership and technical insight that will strengthen an already hardworking and effective council leadership,” he said.

“We are committed to collaborating with every role player on the ground and we know by working together we will be able to achieve our goal of an FMD-free country,” Aucamp added.

Outlook

Industry leaders said eradication will take time and highlighted the need for coordinated vaccination and clear information-sharing between government, veterinarians and farmers as private vaccine distribution expands.