Regulatory green light for mass vaccine imports
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has praised the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for moving swiftly to clear the way for six million doses of the Dollvet vaccine to enter the country as part of the national fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
The regulatory body issued a Section 21 permit on Friday authorising the importation of two million doses, and has since confirmed that two further permits will be granted for the outstanding four million. The vaccines are being brought in through staggered shipments of two million at a time — a logistical requirement driven in part by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Steenhuisen.
South Africa already received 1.5 million Dollvet vaccines from Turkey on 1 March 2026. On top of this, a further five million doses of the Biogénesis Bagó vaccine are set to be ordered in the near future, following the arrival of one million doses from Argentina last month.
"I want to recognise the vital role the private sector has played in navigating the complexities of vaccine acquisition and logistics. To our farmers and all the role players walking beside the Department of Agriculture in this fight - thank you for your resilience and cooperation. We are not fighting this battle alone, and it is through this united front that we will protect our national herd and ensure long-term food security."
Steenhuisen emphasised the critical importance of cooperation between government and the private sector in tackling the FMD outbreak. The Department of Agriculture also thanked SAHPRA for its urgency and responsiveness, noting that the authority's cooperation has been essential in preventing delays. A detailed delivery timetable is expected to be released once logistics have been finalised.
KwaZulu-Natal rolls out ambitious twice-yearly vaccination drive
In KwaZulu-Natal, Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa has launched an extensive inoculation programme designed to vaccinate every commercial and communal head of cattle in the province twice within the next 12 months. The initiative will draw on five million doses, comprising both BioGenesis Bagó and Dollvet vaccines.
Vaccination operations are currently under way in uMzimkhulu in the Harry Gwala District Municipality, which became the second district to receive supplies after Ugu District Municipality on the south coast. KwaZulu-Natal is home to roughly 2.5 million cattle according to the most recent livestock census, making it the country's second-largest cattle province behind the Eastern Cape.
"As per the schedule, vaccines have been arriving in batches, with the first shipment of 200 000 doses of BioGenesis Bago from Argentina in February and 560 000 doses of Dollvet vaccines from Turkey having arrived early this month, all stored at Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory at Cascades in Pietermaritzburg."
The MEC indicated that veterinary-led vaccination work in uMzimkhulu is expected to wrap up with mop-up activities early this week, weather permitting. Once that phase concludes, authorities will announce which district is next in line for the rollout.
South Africa's accelerated importation of millions of FMD vaccine doses carries significant consequences for the livestock sector, which underpins rural livelihoods and contributes substantially to the agricultural economy. Uncontrolled outbreaks threaten export bans on beef and related products, directly affecting farmers, feedlots, and processing businesses. The coordinated government and private sector response, particularly the ambitious twice-yearly vaccination drive in KwaZulu-Natal, suggests a structured path toward containing the disease, though success will depend on sustained logistical execution and provincial cooperation nationwide.
