The Road Freight Association (RFA), in partnership with Trucking Wellness, Engen and the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI), is bringing Covid-19 vaccines to truck drivers on the road. This initiative will enable truck drivers who use the N3 Corridor to get their Covid-19 vaccinations while en route to the destinations.
The first Pop-Up vaccination station will be at the Engen Highveld 1-Stop West on the R21, from 06 to 10 September. Drivers will be able to get vaccinated between 09h00 and 15h00.
The five-day pilot project will determine whether there is an appetite from truck drivers for mobile vaccination stations. The vaccination programme will be extended to other Engen stations based on demand.
The next Pop-Up vaccination station is planned for the Heidelberg Traffic Control Centre on the N3 from the middle of September.
Quick and Easy
“Any driver over the age of 18 years of age can bring his/her Identity Document and the team will register him/her on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS). Thereafter he/she will be vaccinated: it’s as easy as that!” explains Gavin Kelly, the Chief Executive Officer of the RFA.
“For South Africa to return to some sense of normality, it is vital that everyone get their Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible,” continues Kelly. “Long-distance truck drivers spend many hours on the road making their deliveries, so it is very challenging for them to find somewhere safe and convenient to get their jab. The Engen Highveld 1-Stop is the perfect place for drivers on the N3 to do this: great facilities, ample parking and very safe.”
Truck drivers who get their jab at the Engen Highveld 1-Stop and who share photos of this on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, could win prizes.
Kelly urges truck drivers to make use of this opportunity, as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to grow. On 30 August, South Africa reported 5,644 new cases of Covid-19, taking the total reported to 2,770,575.
The number of deaths has reached 81,830, while recoveries have climbed to 2,533,956, leaving the country with a balance of 154,789 active cases. The total number of vaccines administered now stands at 12,289,478.
“We have a lot of work to do to get our country vaccinated: the RFA and its partners are proud to play a role in making this easier for our industry,” concludes Kelly.
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