Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) says animal vaccine shortages have stabilised in the country. While there are still shortages of some vaccines with low demand, these will be sorted by August, OBP said. In the meantime, international experts from the European Union are being recruited to help fix the vaccine manufacturer’s broken-down equipment.
During a media briefing held at the OBP offices in Pretoria, top executives confirmed vaccine availability had increased since the beginning of the year.
Interim CEO Luvuyo Madumo said production at OBP was delayed due to equipment failures and product supply challenges.
“Last year was a difficult year because equipment broke down in 2020, which pushed our costs up. We normally manufacture it in Spain and the owners are in France, so actually fixing the equipment takes time and it is very expensive,” explained Madumo.
No one in South Africa knows how to fix the specific equipment, he said.
Steps put in place
OBP said that while vaccines are currently in the process of being distributed to various market points, the availability of vaccines also depend on how much the product is in demand.
“The OBP manufactures vaccines according to the product demand because our farmers trust our product,” said OBP marketing sales and business officer, Jacob Madumo.
Corrective measures have been put in place, Madumo said. This includes an invitation to international experts from the European Union to attend to product supply challenges. Later in June, experts are scheduled to inspect equipment failures at OBP.
“The problem is that we need to first fix the problem and then continue to produce and avail the product to our customers. We can’t really go far in without solving the issue,” he added.
Vaccines that are available
Animal vaccines are currently available for distribution for the following diseases: bluetongue disease, African horse sickness, anthrax, black quarter, rift valley fever (live), botulism vaccine, Brucella CFT Antigen, Brucella MRT Antigen, Brucella STD Serum, elephant skin disease, heartwater, Pasteurella for cattle and Pasteurella for sheep, tetanus, pulpy kidney, and rift valley fever (inactive).
More vaccines are in production and are expected to be available between June and August. These include:
- B.phemeral vaccine for bovine fever in cattle will be available in July.
- Brucella s19 for Brucella melitensis will be available in August.
- Chlamysure vaccines for cattle will be available in July.
- African horse sickness vaccine will be available in June.
- REV1, vaccination against bovine and caprine brucellosis will be available in July.
- Bluetongue virus vaccines will be available in July.
- Rift valley fever vaccines will be available in June.
- Lumpy skin disease vaccines will be available in June.
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