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 their destinations.
The first pop-up vaccination station will be based at the Engen Highveld 1-Stop West on the R21, from September 6-10. 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 programme will be extended to other Engen stations based on demand.
The next pop-up station is planned for the Heidelberg Traffic Control Centre on the N3 from the middle of September.
And the process is quick and easy.
“Any driver over the age of 18 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!” says RFA CEO Gavin Kelly.
“For South Africa to return to some sense of normality, it is vital that everyone gets their Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible,” says 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.”
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 has urged truck drivers to make use of this opportunity, as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to grow.
