STAFF at mining giant Rio Tinto's major Far North Queensland operations are unlikely to be included in the region's fast-tracked COVID vaccine as the crisis deepens at neighbouring islands. A Rio Tinto spokesman said the company, which has mining operations in Weipa, would comply with any government directives but already had strict COVID protocols in place to safeguard workers against the virus and its spread. "All employees and contractors must undertake a multi-layered screening program before accessing Weipa operations," the spokesman said. "Our screening regimen reflects the Queensland government's hotspot declarations and our own contractor management controls."