South Africa has officially launched its first-ever poultry vaccination campaign to combat the threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The move represents a decisive shift in the country’s approach to managing the recurring outbreaks of bird flu that have severely impacted the poultry industry in recent years.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development confirmed the initiation of the vaccination programme at a broiler breeder facility owned by Astral Foods Limited, one of South Africa’s largest integrated poultry producers. The farm has begun administering vaccinations to 200,000 broiler breeder birds—equivalent to five percent of the company’s breeding stock—under a newly issued government permit.
Dipepeneneng Serage, Deputy Director-General at the Department, stated on Thursday that the campaign commenced earlier this week and is set to expand in the coming days. “We just approved one vaccination for the first time. We are still finalising details for others. So, how it happens is firms apply, a prescription is issued, and only then vaccination starts and other farms will follow,” Serage explained in a media briefing. He added that a broader rollout is expected imminently.
The current strategy is cautious but forward-looking, marking a regulatory milestone in the country’s agricultural policy. The implementation requires farms to seek individual authorisation through an application and prescription-based process. This procedural oversight ensures that vaccination remains targeted and data-driven during its initial stages.
Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, welcomed the development, highlighting the critical role vaccination could play in shielding the domestic poultry sector from the economic and supply chain disruptions observed during previous outbreaks. “The start of this vaccination campaign is a crucial step toward fortifying our poultry industry against future HPAI shocks,” he said during a press briefing earlier this week.
The 2023 bird flu outbreak proved to be one of the most destructive in South African history, with millions of birds culled and a widespread shortage of poultry meat and eggs reported nationwide. The crisis underscored the vulnerability of the country’s food production systems to viral outbreaks and prompted urgent calls for long-term disease mitigation strategies.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recognises vaccination as a legitimate tool for managing HPAI in countries where the disease is endemic or recurrent. South Africa’s decision to adopt vaccination—after years of relying exclusively on containment and culling—aligns the country with global best practices in animal disease control.
The Department of Agriculture has indicated that more permits are likely to be issued soon, with a national framework being finalised to support wider implementation. The next phase of the rollout is anticipated within a week, according to officials familiar with the planning.
While vaccination does not eliminate the virus outright, it significantly reduces viral shedding, transmission, and mortality in poultry flocks. As such, it is a critical complement to existing biosecurity measures on farms. Experts have also warned that immunisation must be carefully monitored to prevent potential trade restrictions, especially as some international markets remain hesitant to import vaccinated poultry due to surveillance complexities.
The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has expressed support for the campaign, citing the industry’s need for long-term resilience in the face of recurrent HPAI threats. The vaccination strategy could provide a sustainable solution that balances animal welfare, economic stability, and public health.
South Africa’s poultry sector contributes more than 17% to the country’s agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and is a vital source of protein for millions. The success of this campaign, therefore, holds implications far beyond disease control—it speaks to national food security, livelihoods, and trade continuity.
As the campaign scales up, the eyes of the region and global partners will be watching closely. If successful, South Africa’s vaccination programme could serve as a model for other countries grappling with similar HPAI challenges.
