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The rollout of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines in South Africa is facing logistical and regulatory challenges, raising concerns for the pig industry as outbreaks continue to threaten meat production. Although more than 2.5 million doses have arrived, yet there are delays in testing because approvals and distribution of vaccines from storage facilities to farms is taking longer than expected, leaving many livestock, including pigs vulnerable to infection.
Strain matching, regulatory approvals and compliance with veterinary standards before deployment is making the process of vaccination remain complex. Involving Industry stakeholders say these delays are particularly critical given the role pigs can play in spreading the virus, stressing that faster rollout is essential to limit transmission and protect commercial piggeries already under pressure from movement restrictions and disease outbreaks.
While most of the initial vaccine shipments have now been distributed across provinces, uneven rollout and uncertainty over supply timelines continue to frustrate farmers. Calls are growing for improved coordination between government and private sector capacity to accelerate vaccination efforts, as authorities aim to immunise a large share of the national herd and stabilise the broader livestock sector.
March 17, 2026/South Africa/
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/
