The South African mining sector has vaccinated more than 100 000 employees against COVID-19.

According to the Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA), as of mid-August, its member mines had vaccinated 105 927 employees at mining sites. This figure includes 946 healthcare workers who were vaccinated under the Sisonke programme, a phase-three clinical trial of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The milestone figure, however, does not include employees who were vaccinated at private and public health facilities before the opening of vaccination sites on mines in June. About 11% of these employees received either a single dose or both of the two-dose vaccine, representing about 22% of all mining employees and contractors.

There are currently 45 operational vaccination sites at mines across South Africa, with a further 14 sites still pending accreditation.

According to MCSA CEO Roger Baxter, one of the council’s smaller member companies ‘has already reported an 83% vaccination uptake, with some of the larger companies heading towards 50%’.

He says the council has set a target of vaccinating 80% of its employees and contractors as sufficient doses become available.

31 August 2021
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