South Africa's efforts to combat its worst foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak have taken a significant step forward with the announcement that private companies will be allowed to manufacture the Agricultural Research Council's (ARC) FMD vaccine. Agriculture minister Willie Aucamp's proposal, approved by the ARC and its board, enables qualifying local and international companies to use the council's intellectual property under conditional licensing agreements. This move aims to address the production constraints that have limited local vaccine production.
The decision comes as South Africa continues its mass vaccination programme, with over 23-million vaccine doses imported by September. All commercial dairy cattle, totaling more than 1.38-million animals, have received their first dose. The country has relied heavily on imported vaccines from suppliers in Argentina, Turkey, and Botswana, while the ARC has worked to restore domestic manufacturing. In February, the ARC produced its first locally manufactured FMD vaccine in over 20 years, with an initial commitment to produce 20,000 doses a week.
However, the ARC has acknowledged that its existing manufacturing capacity is insufficient to meet the country's needs. The council's initial production target of 20,000 doses a week is set to increase to 200,000 a week by 2027. To overcome the immediate production constraint, Aucamp's proposal allows private manufacturers to use the ARC's technology while retaining local ownership of the intellectual property. This approach is expected to help address the shortage of vaccines.
The ARC's vaccine is designed to protect against domestic FMD strains and requires a single annual administration. The council will continue to expand its own manufacturing capacity, with all income generated from licensing agreements ringfenced for that purpose. This ensures that the revenue generated from the partnerships will be reinvested in local vaccine production.
The announcement also comes amid renewed scrutiny of South Africa's vaccine and testing arrangements. Farmers have called for greater independent verification of FMD testing, with the ARC due to send representative virus samples to the UK's Pirbright Institute in October for a second round of vaccine-matching assessments. This move aims to ensure the effectiveness of the vaccines being used.
The partnership between the ARC and private companies is expected to help fast-track the production of FMD vaccines, reducing the country's reliance on imports. With FMD outbreaks recorded in all nine provinces, the need for effective and timely vaccination is critical. The government's efforts to address the crisis have been bolstered by the involvement of private sector companies.
As the country continues to battle the FMD outbreak, the ARC's collaboration with private manufacturers is seen as a crucial step towards achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production. The initiative is also expected to enhance the country's animal health sector, with the potential for long-term benefits for the agricultural industry.
Key points
- The ARC's existing manufacturing capacity is insufficient to meet the country's needs.
- Over 23-million vaccine doses had been imported by September.
- The ARC's vaccine requires a single annual administration.
