A pop-up Covid-19 vaccination drive for South Africa’s road freight sector saw 80 truck drivers getting the jab in the first two days.
The initiative by Engen was held in partnership with the Road Freight Association (RFA), Trucking Wellness, and the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI), and enabled truck drivers travelling along the R21 and the N3 on September 6-10 to receive their Covid-19 vaccinations.
With hygiene protocols strictly adhered to, a pop-up vaccination station was set up at the Engen Highveld 1-Stop West on the R21.
Adnaan Emeran, marketing and commercial business development manager at Engen, says the vaccine drive aligns closely with the company’s consistent support for South Africa’s heavy-duty truck drivers through its annual Driver Wellness initiative, which aims to improve occupational health and wellness among long-distance truck drivers.
“Engen Driver Wellness provides free voluntary health checks to truck drivers, advice on healthy lifestyle choices, and consultations where necessary, which not only improves their health through increased awareness, but is another way of keeping our roads safe,” says Emeran.
“For South Africa to return to some normality, it is vital that we all get vaccinated as soon as possible and we trust that this initiative will help truckers, who largely work long hours, to find a safe and convenient way to receive their jabs timeously,” adds Emeran.
The five-day pilot project is a clear indicator that there is an appetite from truck drivers for mobile vaccination stations.
RFA CEO Gavin Kelly explains that freight drivers simply needed to present a South African identity document to be registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS).
“Thereafter they were vaccinated. It was as easy as that.
“Long-distance truck drivers spend many hours on the road, so it is very challenging for them to find somewhere safe and convenient to get their jab.
“The Engen Highveld 1-Stop was the perfect place for drivers on the R21 to do this - great facilities and ample and safe parking.”
