Black empowered mining company Exxaro Resources partnered with pharmacy group Dis-Chem to vaccinate its employees, contractors and their next of kin at the Exxaro head office, the conneXXion.
The partnership began in August and, as at October 15, more than 570 people have received the vaccination through the partnership.
“To reach herd immunity has to do with partnerships, not just between business and government but between business and business. The health of our people and citizens is a responsibility that sits on us all and not just our government health department,” says Exxaro safety and health GM Dr Joseph Matjila.
According to Minerals Council South Africa, 41% of mining employees are partially or fully vaccinated.
As at October 15 , Exxaro has vaccinated 7 667 employees across all its operations and is aiming to reach herd immunity of 80% in support of the council’s target to reach this milestone by November.
“Our partnership with Dis-Chem and the various provincial departments of health where we have mining and renewable energy operations, is our continued effort to protect our employees and their families in line with our Zero Harm policy, which also ensures that we provide access to basic healthcare services,” says Matjila.
As part of Exxaro’s commitment to fighting Covid-19, its Occupational Health Centres at its Grootegeluk and Matla complexes have been accredited as vaccination sites and it has established partnerships with the provincial health administrations in Limpopo and Mpumalanga to assist in accelerating vaccination uptake.