Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) has initiated a weekly COVID‐19 vaccination program at the Lindi Jumbo Mine site in Tanzania, as construction activity ramps up for the graphite mine developer.
The company has engaged with local district health authorities to administer the vaccines including an information session with qualified health professionals before vaccine administration.
Uptake has been encouraging, with 100% of the Lindi Jumbo project team and 55% of the contracted employees having now received their first shot of the Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) vaccine
With encouraging inoculation rates on-site, planning is now in place between the District Medical Officer and the Lindi Jumbo team to extend the COVID sessions to villages surrounding the Lindi Jumbo Mine.
“Unique opportunity”
Walkabout Resources CEO Andrew Cunningham said: “We are giving our people – contracted or otherwise – the opportunity to receive a vaccination where there would otherwise be limited or no opportunity to do so. “
“Mining companies have a unique opportunity to leverage resources and relationships to drive greater health and safety outcomes in the communities in which we operate – such as setting up clinics to make them more readily available.
“Potentially devastating impacts could arise if these unvaccinated communities are exposed to the virus and we can play an important role in not only providing globally accepted health advice and education so that individuals can make informed decisions, but also facilitate vaccine accessibility should they choose to protect themselves.”
Walkabout Resources COO addresses workers regarding the benefits of receiving a vaccine.
Forward plan
Extending this opportunity to local communities within Lindi Jumbo’s sphere of influence is a critical step by the company, especially in remote areas where low inoculation rates continue to be reported
Since October 5, 2021, the Tanzanian Government has made COVID‐19 updates weekly and has urged the public to remain compliant with recommended prevention methods.
The latest figures indicate the number of individuals attending clinics countrywide has risen from 3,000 to nearly 50,000 per day since the announcement, however, the vaccination rates are still alarmingly low.
The government is hopeful that further promotion will see the 1,058,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines donated by the US Government utilised before their expiry in December