Biotechnology firm Dunevax Biotech has confirmed that 1.5 million doses of the Dollvet foot-and-mouth disease vaccine have already been handed over to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), yet the state is yet to settle its bill for the consignment.
The company described the shipment as a significant step forward in the national effort to combat the persistent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, noting that the vaccines target all three strains of the virus currently circulating. An additional six million doses are anticipated to arrive during March as part of the broader government vaccination rollout.
Dunevax CEO Dr David Gerber revealed that the delivery proceeded on the strength of verbal commitments from government officials, despite no formal payment having been processed. "The vaccine was delivered based on verbal undertakings from government officials, but payment has not yet been received," Gerber stated. He added that the decision to press ahead was guided by good faith and the company's ethical obligation to safeguard the country's livestock sector.
However, the Department of Agriculture offered a different account of the situation. Ministerial spokesperson Joylene van Wyk indicated earlier this week that authorities were still awaiting Dunevax to hand the doses over to OBP, after which verification procedures, stock counts and temperature compliance checks would be conducted.
"Once these processes have been completed, full payment will be made in settlement. This is the process as prescribed by the Public Financial Management Act which is binding on government departments," Van Wyk said.
