Members of the Minerals Council of South Africa have vaccinated more than 105 927 employees. These workers represent about 20% of mining employees and contractors.
The total figure includes about 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. Around 11% of those are fully vaccinated, that is, have either received a single dose vaccine or have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine.
Currently there are 45 mine-based vaccination sites that are operational, with a further 14 sites at which accreditation is still pending.
According to Roger Baxter, CEO of the Minerals Council, one of its smaller member companies has reported an 83% vaccination uptake, with some of the larger companies heading towards 50%.
“Our workplace programmes are efficient and convenient, and through them our employees are also able to access credible information that supports their free choice to be vaccinated. As an industry we have set an ambitious target to get 80% of employees and contractors vaccinated if sufficient doses of vaccines are made available to us,” says Baxter.
Members of the Minerals Council of South Africa has vaccinated more than 105 927 employees. Photo credit: Pixabay