South African producers gain access to 4.5M FMD vaccine doses

SOUTH AFRICA – South African livestock producers can now purchase foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines through their veterinarians after Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) secured 4.5 million additional doses and opened a dedicated veterinary ordering platform to improve vaccine access amid ongoing disease control efforts.

RMIS announced that the first 2 million doses of the Biogénesis Bagó FMD vaccine are expected to arrive in the country within 10 days, following the distribution of more than 2.5 million doses over the past two months under the Department of Agriculture’s national vaccination programme.

Unlike the earlier government-funded allocations, the newly procured vaccines will be producer-funded, allowing farmers to purchase additional doses while complementing, rather than replacing, the national FMD vaccination programme.

“Increasing vaccine availability is a significant step for our industry. Supply has been one of the biggest challenges we have faced, and by bringing additional doses into the country, we are giving producers a reliable way to access quality vaccine and protect their animals,” said Dewald Olivier, CEO of RMIS.

Veterinarians required to order vaccine through RMIS platform

Producers will not be able to purchase vaccines directly. Instead, all orders must be submitted by registered veterinarians through the RMIS Vet Ordering Platform, reflecting the regulated status of FMD as a state-controlled disease.

To place an order, both the veterinary practice and livestock producer must hold a valid Global Location Number (GLN), enabling every vaccine order to be linked to a specific veterinarian and farm.

RMIS said more than 117 veterinarians have already used the digital platform during previous vaccine distributions, with additional practitioners able to register following a verification process.

The ordering platform is integrated with RMIS’s livestock traceability system, which currently includes more than 13,000 registered GLNs across South Africa’s livestock value chain.

Once an order is submitted, producers make payment into a ring-fenced account before confirmation. 

Automated WhatsApp notifications keep both veterinarians and producers informed throughout the process, while deliveries are verified by scanning QR codes upon receipt to create a date-stamped traceability record.

The FMD vaccine is priced at R46 (US$2.55) per dose, excluding VAT, with delivery to the veterinary practice included. 

RMIS noted that the price could vary depending on exchange rate movements and fuel costs.

Of the R46, R1 (US$0.06) is allocated to the veterinary practice to standardise service fees, while RMIS said it does not apply any markup and is solely facilitating procurement, logistics and traceability.

The vaccine is supplied in 60-dose bottles, meaning producers requiring fewer doses must still purchase a full bottle.

RMIS selected Biogénesis Bagó as its supplier, citing the company’s decades of experience in FMD prevention and its role in supporting Argentina’s successful efforts to achieve FMD-free status.

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