Foot and mouth vaccine (Photo: Dunevax)
A presentation on the government’s response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to parliament’s portfolio committee on agriculture “again confirmed that not enough is being done to ensure that vaccine is administered effectively at farm level”.
So says FMD Response SA and at the same time warns that the vaccine should not be kept in refrigerators, but should be used.
“What is urgently needed is a clear, workable plan from the government that ensures that BKS vaccine is distributed to all provinces and administered to 14 million cattle within a period of six to eight weeks,” says FMD Response SA in its statement.
Dipepeneneng Serage, deputy director general of agriculture, addressed the parliamentary portfolio committee on agriculture on Tuesday and according to FDM Response SA, the deputy DG admits that he is dissatisfied with the current pace of the vaccination campaign.
About four million vaccine doses have been obtained so far, with another seven million planned. However, few details have been given about how it is applied at provincial or farm level, says FDM Response SA.
FMD Response SA, a coalition of more than 250 dairy, pig and cattle farmers and industry experts, says it is “deeply concerned about the lack of clarity about the rollout at farm level”.
According to Andrew Morphew, spokesman for the organisation, there is currently no coherent plan.
“There is no clear plan from the government outlining how the country’s cattle population will be vaccinated quickly enough to achieve herd immunity,” he said.
He says that time is of the essence. “South Africa’s 14 million cattle must be vaccinated within a window period of six to eight weeks to get herd immunity to 80%. Brazil and Argentina have eradicated BKS with such campaigns. This is the only way to do it.”
According to the group, the science is clear that the majority of a country’s cattle must be immune so that the virus cannot spread further. Slow or phased vaccination undermines this goal and allows the virus to thrive.
“A mass vaccination campaign stretched out over a year, as the government is planning, is a recipe for failure,” warns Morphew.
He says the private sector must urgently be allowed to purchase, distribute and administer vaccine. “Furthermore, permits must be granted to enable the importation of vaccine.”
Serage reportedly said on Monday evening that his department is prepared to work with large commercial farmers and allow them to import vaccine.
The organization warns that without immediate action and an effective plan, the consequences of BKS for farmers, jobs, food security and the wider economy will further worsen.