The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) applauds the Queensland Government for answering the call to include freight and distribution centre workers on the vaccine priority list.
This announcement is acknowledgement of the essential role freight and logistics workers continue to play on the front line of the pandemic, said QTA CEO Gary Mahon.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced this morning: “The Chief Health Officer has also added FIFO, freight and distribution centre workers to the high-risk priority group. These changes, coupled with the remarkable work of Queenslanders during this lockdown will bolster our efforts to get on top of the latest outbreak.”
QTA CEO Gary Mahon said this is excellent news, particularly for Queensland truck drivers who regularly travel into interstate hotspots.
“This will provide them and their families the assurance of vaccine protection while performing their important role of keeping the supply chain moving around Australia.
“We appreciate the Queensland Government acknowledgement that freight and logitistics workers needed to be included in this latest list of priority workers to receive the vaccine.”
This news comes after the opening of dedicated truck-only testing facilities at Port of Brisbane and Charlton, with a third to come at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre tomorrow.
“Following the National Cabinet meeting on Friday, it is was pleasing to hear that rapid antigen testing will be given further consideration which is positive step towards forming a more sustainable set of testing requirements for truck drivers,” added Mahon.
“We will continue to strongly support the use of rapid antigen testing for our truck drivers who are under immense pressure to comply with mandatory testing requirements around the country.”
“The truck drivers and freight distribution centre workers continue to perform an essential front-line role in keeping supply chains flowing to ensure our communities remain open and our supermarkets are fully stocked.
“Now being prioritised to be vaccinated will keep them and their families safe.”
Mahon encourages industry to communicate to all their staff to go and secure an appointment to get the Covid vaccine. All the information can be found here.