SAHPRA Fast-Tracks 6 Million Dollvet Vaccines for FMD Outbreak

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) intervention to fast-track six million doses of Dollvet vaccines against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). This aids South African farmers and the livestock sector during an ongoing outbreak. The move matters now to protect the national herd and food security amid logistics issues from the Middle East conflict, according to a Department of Agriculture statement reported by SAnews.gov.za.

SAHPRA issued a Section 21 permit on Friday for two million doses of the Dollvet FMD vaccine. The authority confirmed two more permits for the remaining four million doses. This phased approach handles import challenges.

On March 1, 2026, 1.5 million Dollvet doses arrived from Turkey. Steenhuisen noted the consignments of two million doses each as a logistical need due to the Middle East conflict.

Here are the key vaccine facts:

• Initial Section 21 permit: 2 million Dollvet doses, issued Friday.
• Additional permits: 2 million + 2 million Dollvet doses.
• Arrival: 1.5 million Dollvet doses from Turkey on March 1, 2026.

All details come from the Department of Agriculture and SAnews.gov.za.

The Department plans to order five million more doses of the Biogénesis Bagó vaccine. One million doses arrived from Argentina last month.

Steenhuisen praised public-private collaboration. He thanked farmers, the private sector, and SAHPRA for their roles.

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.

In KwaZulu-Natal, MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa leads a bi-annual vaccination for all commercial and communal cattle. The province has about 2.5 million cattle, per the latest census.

Vaccination uses five million doses of BioGenesis Bagó and Dollvet vaccines. Efforts continue in uMzimkhulu in Harry Gwala District Municipality, after Ugu District.

KwaZulu-Natal vaccine arrivals include:

Doses are stored at Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory in Pietermaritzburg. Data comes from the KZN Department and SAnews.gov.za.

These steps aim to protect the national herd and food security. Steenhuisen stressed collaboration’s role.

KwaZulu-Natal targets twice-yearly shots for all cattle. Last Friday, teams gave 15,037 doses in uMzimkhulu. This raised the district total near 120,000.

The department and MEC statements provide these verified facts.

The Department will order more Biogénesis Bagó vaccines soon. Delivery schedules for remaining doses will follow once set.

In KwaZulu-Natal, mop-up vaccinations in uMzimkhulu should end this week if weather allows. The next district will then be named. Updates come from department and MEC reports.