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The Zambian government has reportedly distributed a total of 2,039,450 doses of animal vaccines across high-risk regions as part of the 2025 National Livestock Vaccination Programme.
The vaccines target diseases of national economic importance, including 1,288,450 doses for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), 670,000 doses for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), and 81,000 doses for Anthrax.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Principal Public Relations Officer, Benny Munyama, said the distribution demonstrated government’s commitment to disease prevention and control to improve livestock production and productivity.
Munyama stated that Southern Province received the largest share of FMD vaccines at 823,450 doses, followed by Central Province with 405,000.
He said Western and Eastern provinces received 50,000 and 10,000 doses respectively.
For CBPP, Munyama said Western Province received 579,000 doses, North-Western Province 58,000, Northern Province 23,000, and Muchinga Province 10,000.
He indicated that all 81,000 doses of the Anthrax vaccine were allocated to Western Province.
“This vaccine distribution and onward animal vaccination will help control disease outbreaks and contribute to Zambia’s plan to increase the national cattle population from the current 5.1 million to over 7.4 million by 2027,” Munyama said.
He added that the initiative supported government’s target of launching US$1 billion in annual beef exports beginning this year.
Munyama emphasized that animal vaccines were a critical component in the prevention, control, and management of livestock diseases, and routine vaccination will build herd immunity, reduce livestock mortality, and enhance overall productivity.
He clarified that vaccinations will only be conducted in high-risk areas where FMD, CBPP, and Anthrax were prevalent, and urged livestock farmers to cooperate with veterinary officers.
“Government remains committed to working closely with farming communities and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the National Livestock Vaccination Programme,” he said.
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