JOHANNESBURG (CU)_South Africa is currently facing a massive resurgence of COVID-19 infections, particularly on account of the highly contagious Delta variant. As of Sunday (27 June), the seven-day average of new daily infections in the country has overtaken the peak of the first COVID wave in July last year, and is expected to surpass the peak of the second wave recorded in January as well.
“Our health facilities are stretched to the limit… ICU beds are in short supply,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday as he announced the placement of South Africa under Adjusted Alert Level 4, just one level below a full lockdown. Accordingly, all schools will continue to remain shut, while the night-time curfew has been extended by an hour. Restaurants and eateries are only permitted to provide take-away and delivery services.
Against such a background, with the aim of minimising the impact of the pandemic on the country’s economy, the government has decided to permit the mining industry, a noteworthy contributor to the GDP, to continue their operations by registering mining occupational health sites as primary vaccination sites. There are 58 sites that have currently applied to be registered and 21 of them have already received the required permits from the National Department of Health (NDoH).
On the other hand, several other sites are preparing to operate as secondary sites that are associated with a primary site, which could be either a registered mine-based primary site or a nearby hospital, clinic, pharmacy or general practitioner.
Accordingly, the mining sector is taking the necessary measures to ensure that employees younger than 60 years are vaccinated as soon as national policy makes it possible. Over time, some of these sites are expected to extend their services to the families of employees and others in surrounding communities as well.
In order to obtain the permit, all these sites are required to undergo a very detailed process and meet detailed minimum criteria prescribed by the NDoH. They have and will continue to operate under the procedures set out by the Health Department, procuring the vaccines from the government and delivering them according to the age groups determined by the government.
The first mining site to begin vaccinations was the Impala Platinum mine in the North West province, which began inoculating employees late last month. It was one of five pilot sites that were selected by the NDoH where testing for a model for workplace vaccination are being conducted.
