South Africa has begun producing its first locally manufactured vaccine for foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD) in more than 20 years, a major step in the country’s efforts to control one of the most severe animal disease outbreaks in recent memory.
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has released an initial batch of about 12,900 doses of the FMD vaccine from its Underreport facility, with plans to scale up production in the coming months. Authorities aim to increase weekly output to around 20,000 doses by March 2026, and ultimately boost supply to support a broad vaccination campaign targeting millions of cattle nationwide.
The move marks a shift from reliance on imported vaccines toward greater domestic vaccine self‑sufficiency and biosecurity, an approach government officials say will strengthen South Africa’s response capability and reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions abroad.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen described the milestone as crucial for controlling the outbreak and protecting livestock industries, which have faced trade restrictions and economic losses due to FMD’s spread. The government’s strategy includes a multi‑phase vaccination plan alongside continued testing, surveillance, and movement controls to curb the disease’s impact.
Farmers and officials alike are watching closely as the rollout of locally produced vaccines ramps up, hoping it will accelerate efforts to contain the virus and support recovery in a sector that underpins food security and rural livelihoods.