Private FMD vaccine distribution in South Africa begins
.
In August, DSV supported the first authorised private-sector distribution and delivery of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines in South Africa, transporting the vaccines on behalf of Dunevax to Karan Beef.
Dunevax Biotech announced earlier this year that 1.5 million SAHPRA-approved Dollvet-Oil FMD vaccine doses had arrived at DSV’s cargo facility at OR Tambo International Airport, a crucial shipment in South Africa’s effort to control FMD outbreaks across all nine provinces.
The delivery was made from the first batch that was approved to go through the private market, which was 1 million doses. All previous distribution was strictly controlled by the Department of Agriculture
Dirk Verwoerd, Feedlot Veterinarian at Karan Beef, and David Pretorius, Director of Buffalo Analytics, who handled prescription tracking, shared their perspectives in a video on a process built around efficiency, control and traceability. With Dunevax, SAHPRA-licensed DSV, Buffalo Analytics and Karan Beef working together, this first private delivery shows what can be achieved when the right systems, people and processes work together.
"This milestone was achieved through the close coordination with our partners, DSV and Buffalo Analytics. The collaboration and support received from the Minister of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, and the relevant provincial agriculture authorities was also instrumental in enabling the introduction of FMD vaccines into the private market under controlled conditions, while ensuring the process remained aligned with regulatory requirements and broader national and provincial efforts to manage and control the disease", shared Dr. Dirk Verwoerd: Feedlot Veterinarian at Karan Beef.
Buffalo Analytics enables veterinarians and farmers to order vaccines online, verify facilities, track prescriptions, reconcile payments, and manage delivery logistics seamlessly, while DSV’s temperature-controlled transport ensures the vaccines arrive under the right conditions, completing the final step of the integrated process from its Meadowview facility.
The platform links vaccination data to electronic cattle IDs which allows each dose to be tracked and it supports the broader goals of movement control, disease management and national FMD strategy improvements.
Sean Carolan, Director, Sales, Healthcare at DSV, said while DSV’s relationship with Dunevax is relatively new, it has partnered with Karan Beef for the past 16 years. He said DSV’s strong customer relationships, combined with its healthcare logistics expertise, have enabled the company to support the safe and efficient movement of these critical vaccines.
“The vaccines originate in Turkey and are transported by DSV to our warehouse in Meadowview where they are stored, and orders prepared for pick-and-pack before being distributed to veterinarians nationally.
“As a Schedule 4 product, distribution remains highly regulated and restricted to validated veterinary practices. The validation of these practices is therefore underway on an ongoing basis. Larger feedlots and dairy farmers, such as Karan Beef, have their own vets on site, which helps ensure the product can be received and managed in line with the required regulations.”