The vaccination programme is the brainchild of the Road Freight Association (RFA), which is working in partnership with Trucking Wellness, Engen and the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry.
“Truck drivers are essential workers”
Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO of the Federation of East and Southern Africa Road Transport Associations, has welcomed the news, saying it is a real pity that this didn’t happen long ago. “What so many people fail to realise is that truck drivers are essential workers. What happens if they do not do their jobs? We have nothing to eat. We have nothing to drink. We have no medication. In fact, life as we know it simply cannot exist,” he points out.
His words are reminiscent of the comments from Gavin Kelly, CEO of the RFA, who spoke at the recent launch of the Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative. “Transport is the glue that keeps our daily lives going. When it goes well, we don’t see it. It happens in the background. When it goes wrong, it impacts our lives and makes us feel impotent,” he noted.
High-risk profession
Fitzmaurice adds that truck drivers have to contend with an occupation that is high-risk. “Sadly, the delays at border posts are horrendous. It is not unusual for a truck driver to spend days in queues at border posts. Obviously, at some stage, drivers come into contact with each other – because they are ‘in it’ together. There are also queues at the various immigration offices, and social distancing isn’t generally practised. In short, they stand a very good chance of contracting Covid thanks to their line of work.”
Sadly, truck drivers also don’t have very healthy lifestyles. “Obviously, sitting behind the steering wheel of a truck the entire day doesn’t equate to a healthy lifestyle. The drivers aren’t moving or getting physical exercise. This can result in obesity – and we know that this is bad news when it comes to the pandemic. This situation – the lack of physical exercise – is only exacerbated by the fast-food that they eat. Then, of course, there are the long hours that drivers work. This means that they’re often quite run down. In short, their lifestyle is anything but good for their general health,” Fitzmaurice points out.
His comments are borne out in the findings of global research. According to the National Institute of Health in the United States, more than 50 percent of truck drivers are obese, compared to the national rate of 26.7 percent. Not surprisingly, diabetes is a major problem (it is 50 percent higher). Furthermore, a whopping 87 percent of truck drivers have hypertension or pre-hypertension (versus the national average of 58.3 percent). There is no reason to believe that these figures aren’t similar in South Africa.
Help is at hand
Thankfully, this sorry situation is being addressed by the free vaccinations for truck drivers. The first pop-up vaccination station opened its doors on September 6 at the Engen Highveld 1-Stop West on the R21. It will operate for five days. Drivers can get vaccinated between 09h00 and 15h00.
The five-day pilot project will determine the appetite of truck drivers for mobile vaccination stations. The vaccination programme will then be extended to other Engen stations and other facilities based on demand.
Free service for drivers
The vaccinations are available free of charge – to truck drivers only. “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 simple as that!” explains Kelly.
He says it’s not always easy for truck drivers to find the time or opportunity to get vaccinated. “For South Africa to return to some sense of normality, it is vital that everyone get their Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible. 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 to do this: great facilities, ample parking and very safe.”
The next pop-up vaccination station is planned for the Heidelberg Traffic Control Centre on the N3. It should open in the middle of September.
Photo credits:
Photographs by Muhamad Iqbal Akbar on Unsplash, Pedro Céu on Unsplash, Lê Minh from Pexels and Kagan Bastimar from Pexels.
