A Technically Rigorous Strategy
The strategy we are employing is not a temporary patch; it is a comprehensive control and eradication programme designed to interrupt virus transmission and protect our national herd. It is important to emphasise that the success of this strategy will strongly rely on an urgent review of the legislative framework, which has to be adapted to the current emergency situation. Our plan is built on world-class technical principles:

Targeted Vaccination:

We are prioritising high risk zones, with the goal of reaching at least 80% coverage in targeted cattle populations especially the communal areas and up to 100% in feedlots and dairy cows. The objective is to reduce outbreak incidence within 12 months by more than 70% in the high-risk provinces through systematic vaccination
and preserve FMD free provinces th rough buffer vaccination and strict movement controls. High Quality Vaccines with high potency will be used during the campaign especially, trivalent vaccines of SAT 1, 2, and 3 currently circulating in South Africa. Partnerships with global leaders like Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina will ensure that we have a reliable supply, with one million doses ready to be sent as soon as the necessary permits are issued. The company indicated that as soon as the permits are issued, they are able to supply the vaccine in the coming two weeks. We are currently preparing the application for authorisation by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to use an unregistered medicine under Section 21 of Act 101 . The application will be filed by Monday. Biogenesis will also be able to supply an additional five million doses by March 2026.

We have also secured the one necessary permit to import Dollvet vaccine from Turkey.

Locally, we are activating a local production line through the ARC and OBP, which will initially produce 20 000 doses per week , scaling up to a capacity of 96 0 000 doses. The ARC indicated on Monday that they can bring forward their production which will add 12 000 doses to our vaccine pool by mid February.

Pirbright Institute – Many calls have been made and assumptions that we have not sent our latest strains to the Pirbright institute , However I can confirm I instructed the ARC to send the field strains to Pirbright as a matter of urgency. The ARC confirmed they are currently preparing the strains to be sent to the institute .