Truckies who live in a Sydney hotspot now face a mandatory jab or they will not be able to work outside an ‘area of concern’.
NSW Health announced last night that rapid antigen testing is no longer an exit ticket from the LGAs, instead drivers must have rolled up a sleeve at least once before the newly-extended vaccination deadline of September 6.
“Please note as this above announcement illustrates the ground moves very quickly in NSW and that getting information from other sources who purport to represent freight in NSW and reside in other states claiming unverified ‘wins’ in NSW could be problematic,” said Road Freight NSW CEO Simon O’Hara in an update to members today.
On Thursday O’Hara attended a large meeting with NSW Health and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, along with stakeholders, to discuss rapid antigen testing and mandatory vaccination.
“Road Freight NSW along with all other stakeholders sought predominantly a deferment of requirements for rapid testing citing cost and the problems with the logistics of actually performing rapid testing with health providers in and out of areas of concern,” he said.
“Freight is carrying a heavy Covid-compliance load on top of what is already significant day-to-day commitments and I sought some grace and time from NSW Health in relation to requirements for vaccination. NSW Health has listened and made changes accordingly with a new vaccination date of September 6.”
Susie Harwood, executive director freight, Transport for NSW, also had a concession for Sydney’s truckies today: the travel registration form has been amended to “support” freight workers.
A new drop-down selection has been added for:
- Worker with unknown work addresses or
- Authorised worker with unknown work addresses if you are from an area of concern.
These selections do not require you to add destination addresses.
The Service NSW Travel Registration form can be accessed here.
Priority appointments for authorised workers in areas of concern continue to be available. To learn more and to book an appointment at a participating clinic, visit the NSW Government webpage.
It is recommended adults under the age of 60 who do not have immediate access to the Pfizer vaccine should consider the benefits and risks of earlier protection through the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Please see the list of 11 walk-in vaccination clinics in Greater Sydney on the NSW Government webpage.
Priority Pfizer vaccination appointments are also now available to all 16-39 year olds living in a local government area of concern. These areas include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Strathfield.
There are 50 locations where you can book your appointment now for the Pfizer vaccine across Sydney: Priority COVID-19 vaccination booking for 16 to 39 year-olds | NSW Government
You can also get book at vaccination at participating pharmacies across Australia. There are over 250 participating pharmacies in Greater Sydney alone.