John Steinheisen: “Government Doesn’t Have Capacity To Roll Out Vaccines Itself” During SONA 2026

During the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), John Steinheisen addressed concerns over foot-and-mouth disease and outlined the government’s upcoming vaccination program. He revealed that the rollout would begin in five to seven days, but emphasized that the government alone does not have the capacity to implement the program.

Instead, the initiative will rely on a public-private partnership, involving private veterinarians and animal health technicians to ensure vaccines reach farmers at scale. The government will handle vaccine procurement, while distribution will follow a scientific heat map developed by a dedicated task team to target high-risk areas efficiently.

The program aims to vaccinate 80% of targeted herds by the end of the year and reduce the incidence of foot-and-mouth disease by 70%. Vaccines will be sourced from Argentina, Turkey, Botswana, and, for the first time, locally produced vaccines will be rolled out in the field.

Steinheisen’s announcement highlights the government’s recognition that tackling foot-and-mouth disease requires collaboration with private sector experts, rather than relying solely on state-level resources. Farmers can expect the vaccination drive to be implemented rapidly, with a focus on scientific targeting and maximum coverage to protect livestock and safeguard livelihoods.