The Road Freight Association (RFA), in partnership with Trucking Wellness, Engen and the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry, is making it possible for truck drivers to receive Covid-19 vaccinations while travelling between destinations.

RFA CEO Gavin Kelly says long-distance truck drivers spend many hours on the road making their deliveries, which makes it very challenging for them to find somewhere safe and convenient to get their vaccine.

He adds that, for South Africa to return to some sense of normality, it is vital that every person gets their Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible.

This initiative will enable truck drivers who use the N3 corridor to get their Covid-19 vaccinations with the first pop-up vaccination station to be established at the Engen Highveld 1-Stop West on the R21 near Tembisa and Bapsfontein. This site will be open from 09:00 to 15:00 on September 6 to 10. 

The five-day pilot project will determine whether there is an appetite from truck drivers for mobile vaccination stations and, based on strong demand, will be extended to other Engen stations.

The second pop-up vaccination station is planned for the Heidelberg Traffic Control Centre on the N3 from the middle of September.

Kelly urges truck drivers to make use of this opportunity, as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to grow. 

He says any driver over the age of 18 can bring their identity document and the teams at the sites will register them on the Electronic Vaccination Data System.

“Thereafter, they will be vaccinated,” he explains.

Further, the organisers of the initiative state that 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.