First One Million FMD Vaccines Land in SA: KZN, Gauteng, Free State First in Line

The first batch of one million high-potency Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines has arrived in South Africa, marking a critical step in the national effort to contain the outbreak that has spread to all nine provinces.

The consignment touched down at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Saturday, imported from Argentine manufacturer Biogénesis Bagó. More vaccines are expected in the coming weeks, with over five million doses set to be in the country by the end of March.

Who Gets the First Doses?

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen announced that the initial rollout will target high-risk areas:

• KwaZulu-Natal

• Parts of Gauteng

• Free State

• North West

“High-risk and border regions will follow structured vaccination programmes,” Steenhuisen said. The arrival of additional doses will allow authorities to scale up from targeted outbreak response to broader suppression of viral circulation.

Compliance Is Non-Negotiable

Steenhuisen was emphatic that vaccination alone will not solve the crisis. Farmers and industry players must still abide by quarantine rules, movement permits, and biosecurity measures.

“Those who deliberately move animals illegally, conceal infections, or ignore restrictions threaten the recovery of the entire sector,” he warned.

“Where there is wilful non-compliance, we will work with law-enforcement authorities and the full might of the law will be applied.”

New Support Line for Farmers

To assist the farming community, the department has established a dedicated FMD Control Centre. Starting this Wednesday, farmers can access expert guidance via a toll-free support line:

📞 0860 246 640

What This Means

The arrival of the vaccines is a significant logistical achievement, but it is only the beginning. Vaccinating millions of animals across vast and often remote areas will test the capacity of the state and the cooperation of farmers.

For KZN, Gauteng, Free State, and North West, the doses cannot come soon enough. The outbreak has already triggered trade bans, devastated livestock farmers, and threatened the livelihoods of thousands.

Now, with vaccines in hand, the real work begins.