Zuko Komisa
- 1.5 million Turkish-sourced vaccines have landed to bolster the national livestock herd.
- The Department is partnering with private agents to secure a consistent, high-potency vaccine pipeline.
- This batch follows one million Argentine doses already being administered by veterinary teams in high-risk zones.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has confirmed the arrival of 1.5 million Dollvet Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines at OR Tambo International Airport.
Despite transit delays caused by Middle Eastern airspace restrictions, the Turkish-sourced shipment was successfully delivered via authorised agent Dunevax on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
This latest delivery builds on the momentum of a previous shipment of one million doses from Argentina’s Biogénesis Bagó. Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) has already mobilised those units, with provincial veterinary teams currently conducting vaccinations in priority areas.
The Department highlighted that this strategy relies on “unprecedented speed” to contain the viral spread effectively.
Following direct consultations with dairy farmers in the uMngeni region, Minister Steenhuisen emphasised that regaining FMD-free status requires total cooperation between the state and the agricultural sector.
With millions more doses scheduled for delivery in the coming months, the Ministry remains focused on suppressing viral circulation and protecting the national herd through decisive, result-oriented partnerships.
READ NEXT: Three Health Department officials arrested by Hawks over alleged R1 million fraud
The post Mass FMD vaccination drive intensifies as new vaccine batch lands at OR Tambo appeared first on KAYA 959.
