Steenhuisen secures 2 million more FMD vaccines, stockpile hits 8 million

Cape Town – Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has announced the arrival of an additional two million doses of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine from Turkey, bringing the total number of imported doses since February to eight million.

Steenhuisen said a further five million doses are expected soon, which will increase South Africa’s vaccine stockpile to 13 million doses. Combined with the two million doses secured from the Botswana Vaccine Institute last year, the country is expected to have 15 million doses by the end of May 2026.

“This sends a clear signal of our determination to protect the national interest, defend our livestock industry, and win the war against FMD,” Steenhuisen said.

🐄🇿🇦 Yesterday, Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, together with Mpumalanga MEC Khethiwe Moeketsi, led the seventh nationwide Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination rollout campaign in Mpumalanga.

The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to protect livestock, support… pic.twitter.com/UYr32AuKsp

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) May 12, 2026

The vaccination campaign forms part of government’s plan to vaccinate 80% of the national cattle herd — estimated at around 14 million cattle — by the end of December 2026. Steenhuisen said large-scale vaccination is critical to achieving and maintaining “FMD free with vaccination” status while protecting food security, rural livelihoods and export markets.

The Minister also stressed the importance of regional cooperation in tackling transboundary animal diseases, saying: “Cows do not carry passports. If one country acts alone, the risk remains for everyone.”

On Monday, Steenhuisen joined Eswatini’s Agriculture Minister, Mandla Tshawuka, and representatives from Mozambique in Mpumalanga, where 300 cattle were vaccinated as part of a regional collaboration initiative.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has announced the arrival of a further two million doses of Foot and Mouth Disease #FMD vaccine from Dollvet in Turkey, on Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of doses imported since late February to eight million.… pic.twitter.com/r0wwJV2HXn

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 12, 2026

He further called for the establishment of a SADC antigen bank to ensure Southern African countries can rapidly access vaccines during outbreaks without depending on lengthy international procurement processes.

Later this month, Steenhuisen is expected to chair a meeting of Southern African Development Community agriculture ministers in Zimbabwe to discuss regional animal movement controls, livestock traceability and coordinated responses to animal diseases.

“We have seen the pain, uncertainty, and the economic damage this disease has inflicted on farming communities across our country,” Steenhuisen said, adding that government is determined to ensure this becomes “the last major Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak to devastate our people.”