How mining companies will help rollout the Covid-19 vaccine
Queensland Resources Council is compiling a list of resources companies with the capacity to help fast-track vaccinations in regional areas.
Mackay
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A list of resources companies with the capacity to help fast-track vaccinations in the Bowen Basin is being compiled to coincide with anticipated extra vaccine stocks in coming months.
The Queensland Resources Council is working with government and other mining industry organisations to determine how resources companies can help with transport, logistics, facilities and medical staff to roll out a regional vaccination program when supplies increase.
QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane has sent a survey to all members to gauge what level of support the Queensland resources sector could provide over the coming months.
Mr Macfarlane said QRC would work with the State Government, Queensland Health’s Primary Health Networks and Hospitals, state-based vaccine delivery authorities and local councils to give regional Queenslanders faster access to vaccinations.
“Right through the Covid crisis, the health and safety of our employees and the regional communities in which we operate has always been our top priority,” he said.
“If we can go a step further to safeguard regional Queenslanders by supporting the ‘Team Australia’ vaccination rollout, I know resources companies will do what they can to help out.”
Last week, the Minerals Council of Australia attended a roundtable meeting with federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Vaccine Taskforce head Lieutenant General John Frewen to discuss how Australia’s business community could expedite the vaccine rollout once more stocks became available.
As a result, QRC and other MCA members around Australia have been asked to consider how resources companies can ‘encourage, incentivise and participate’ in a national vaccination program.
Mr Macfarlane said the government still needed to provide more details around vaccine availability and the rollout program but the organisation was compiling a list of resources companies that could help.
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