Ramaphosa promises vaccine equity amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

President Cyril Ramaphosa is promising vaccine equity as the Department of Agriculture’s foot-and-mouth disease campaign gains momentum.

This week, one million vaccines were shared between provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal - the epicentre of the disease - and the Free State - the province most affected by the spillover - each getting 200,000 doses.

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Opening the House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in Parliament on Thursday, Ramaphosa said they are expected to be government’s ears and eyes on the ground to facilitate the ambitious campaign to vaccinate the entire national herd of 14 million cattle.

“So, rest assured that this devastating disease that is engulfing the country is going to be properly addressed and we will make sure that there is equity. We will also make sure that there is effectiveness.”

Following last week’s consignment of one million vaccine doses that arrived from Argentina, Ramaphosa said he will be on hand to receive the next consignment.

“A million and a half [doses] arrived just last week. Mr Steenhuisen received them. Five million [doses] will be arriving, which I will receive to give confidence to farmers in our country that vaccines are coming. And our own organisation is also beginning to generate vaccines.”