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Livestock industry urges faster foot-and-mouth vaccine rollout

# Independent livestock industry group, FMD Response SA, has called on government to urgently release millions of foot-and-mouth-disease vaccine doses directly to private veterinarians. It says outbreaks continue to spread, threatening livestock production and rural livelihoods. Spokesperson Andrew Morphew says South Africa is expecting 14-million vaccine doses, but only about 4.4-million cattle have been vaccinated so far. He argues broader private sector participation would accelerate vaccinations, improve access for farmers and strengthen efforts to contain and ultimately eradicate the disease.