Around 13 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations are expected to arrive in South Africa in the next few months.
However, as authorities move to combat the spread of the disease in animals, a key question remains: will consumers of meat from vaccinated animals experience any long-term negative effects?
Millions more doses expected
On Wednesday, 22 April, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced the arrival of two million doses of FMD vaccine.
The vaccine arrived from Dollvet, in Turkey, and is expected to be distributed throughout the country over the next few days.
This delivery is the first batch of six million vaccines that are still expected to arrive.
Read more Limpopo farmers fear FMD outbreak due to collapsed fencing in government nature reserves
Arrival of batches confirmed
According to the report, an additional five million doses have been ordered from Biogenesis Bago in Argentina and have been placed with Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP).
These doses will arrive in two batches of 3.5 million and 1.5 million doses, once the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) approves the section 21 application for their importation.
Access to the international market
“It needs to be made clear that the department has procured all matched vaccines currently available on the international market, and we have ensured that we have access to a steady supply,” said Steenhuisen.
According to Steenhuisen, the incoming vaccines will allow South Africa to access international red meat markets that have been closed for decades due to FMD outbreaks.
“We will push forward to make sure that we achieve our goal – vaccinate the national herd to achieve World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recognition of FMD-free status with vaccination.”
This article is published on New Post News website
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Updated: May 2026
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