BNC target to reach Covid-19 herd immunity
ZIMBABWE Stock Exchange-listed nickel producer Bindura Nickel Corporation (BNC) aims to reach Covid-19 herd immunity among members of the mine’s community as more vaccines are availed.
Rudairo Mapuranga
According to the company Secretary Conrad Mukanganga through a trading update released early this month, BNC has embarked on a voluntary vaccination rollout initiative targeting employees of Trojan Nickel mine and the surrounding community.
He said that the vaccination program was proceeding well with the mineworkers and their families responding well to the company vaccination program.
“With the support of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, BNC embarked on a voluntary vaccination roll-out initiative, which targeted the employees of Trojan Nickel Mine and the community in which they live. The vaccination program is proceeding well, with a good uptake among employees and their dependents. The target is to reach herd immunity among members of the mine’s community as more vaccines are availed,” Mukanganga said.
The company, according to Mukanganga continue to adhere to COVID-19 preventative and control measures as well as health and safety requirements, as prescribed by the Government of Zimbabwe. He said that BNC continues to adhere to best practices, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, in order to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elsewhere in the mining sector, the country’s biggest diamond producer, the Zimbabwe Consolidation of Diamond Companies (ZCDC) achieved herd immunity with 99 per cent of its employees already receiving the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine with 97 per cent receiving the second jab.
The government has been encouraging the nation to remain vigilant amid the COVID-19 pandemic. President Mnangagwa said his government will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccine doses for free until the nation attains herd immunity of 10 million of its approximately 14 million people.
The country plans to purchase 1.5 million vaccines monthly from this month up until herd immunity is achieved.
As the country moves forward in its aim of achieving herd immunity, over one million people have so far received their first dose of the Covid-19 jab.
Zimbabwe has received rave reviews for its Covid-19 response and special praise from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the way it has confronted the global pandemic.