FMD vaccines stocked for northern Namibia

Namibia has access to vaccines to inoculate livestock against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the northern disease control zones.

This is according to Dr Anja Boshoff-De Witt, the executive for quality assurance at the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN). “We also get our vaccine from the Botswana Vaccine Institute," she said.

"We utilise vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in our infected and protected zones, which are located north of the veterinary cordon fence. In the areas south of the fence, we do not vaccinate," she added.

Under a three-year supply agreement with the Botswana Vaccine Institute, Namibia received a total of 3.8 million FMD vaccine doses in 2025, valued at N$60.7 million. This multi-year partnership began with an initial delivery in February 2025 to ensure consistent vaccine availability.

"So yes, there are vaccines, but they are in the northern disease control zones of Namibia, and we usually get them in time for vaccination campaigns, which take place two to three times a year in our infected and protection zones,” Boshoff-De Witt explained.

Why the south remains vaccine-free

Namibia refrains from vaccinating in the south to protect its N$8 billion livestock industry. By maintaining a "free without vaccination" status, Namibia secures access to premium markets like the EU, which accounts for over 80% of beef exports.

Dr Boshoff-De Witt explains that vaccinating in the south would be counterproductive since this would immediately impact the current status and trigger immediate international trade bans and collapse the national economy.

Instead, the Directorate of Veterinary Services relies on strict movement controls, the veterinary cordon fence and intensified surveillance.