South Africa Urges Farmers to Register for Private FMD Vaccination Program DATELINE: Johannesburg, South Africa – July 26, 2026 The South African government has approved a new private veterinary procurement channel for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines, encouraging farmers to complete their registration and authorization process ahead of the vaccine rollout. This move is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen FMD control measures and protect the livestock industry from the highly contagious viral disease.
The Department of Agriculture has ordered two million vaccine doses from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), with the first shipments expected to arrive in the country within the next few days.
The vaccines, sourced from Dollvet in Turkey, represent the first tranche of a six million doses order secured through local agents Dunevax. Under the new private veterinary channel, registered private veterinarians will be able to obtain vaccines directly from authorized importers. This additional route is intended to complement the existing government vaccination program, not replace it, by expanding vaccination capacity while maintaining oversight and traceability.
Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp has launched a self — vaccination application portal for livestock owners, allowing them to apply for official authorization to vaccinate their own animals. This initiative aims to improve disease control and response to potential outbreaks by enabling farmers to take a more active role in protecting their livestock. Livestock producers interested in purchasing FMD vaccines through the private vaccination program are being encouraged to complete the required registration and authorization process now.
The industry awaits government confirmation on the number of doses to be released for private sale.
The new vaccination program is part of South Africa’s ongoing efforts to control the spread of FMD, which can lead to significant economic losses in the livestock industry.
The government’s focus on expanding vaccination capacity and empowering farmers to take an active role in disease control is a positive step towards protecting the country’s livestock and agricultural sector.
As the vaccine rollout progresses, it is crucial for farmers to stay informed and follow the guidelines provided by the Department of Agriculture. By completing the registration and authorization process, farmers can ensure they have access to the necessary vaccines to protect their livestock from FMD.
In conclusion, the South African government’s approval of the private veterinary procurement channel for FMD vaccines and the launch of the self-vaccination application portal are significant steps towards strengthening the country’s FMD control measures.
Farmers are encouraged to complete the registration and authorization process to ensure they can access the vaccines needed to protect their livestock from this highly contagious disease.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Google News v2
