Mining Weekly reports that as of 17 August, Minerals Council SA (MCSA) member companies had given Covid-19 vaccinations to 105,927 of their employees, representing around 22% of mining employees and contractors.

This figure includes 946 healthcare workers vaccinated under the Sisonke programme, but excludes many employees who have been vaccinated at private and public health facilities prior to the opening of workplace vaccination sites. Currently, there are 45 mine-based vaccination sites that are operational, with a further 14 sites for which accreditation is still pending. The industry has set a target of getting 80% of employees and contractors vaccinated, if sufficient doses of the vaccine are made available to the industry. One of the council’s smaller member companies has already reported an 83% vaccination uptake, with some of the larger companies heading towards 50%. The MCSA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) also welcomed the recent announcement by the Department of Health that workplace sites could now vaccinate employee dependants and community members who were 35 years and older. Companies are currently looking at how to implement this outreach programme, either on mine sites or at nearby facilities.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly

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