Freight company delivers Covid jabs to its workers

Dunedin truck drivers rolled up their sleeves this week as part of a freight company's target of reaching a 100% vaccination rate.

The Te Kaika vaccination bus parked at the Mainfreight warehouse depot on Wednesday and vaccinated the 30 on-site staff.

Mainfreight Dunedin operations manager Jason Waho said bringing the vaccinations to the team had been invaluable, as a number of staff had struggled to find time to get the vaccine.

Mainfreight Dunedin operations manager Jason Waho gives a thumbs-up after having his Covid jab....
Mainfreight Dunedin operations manager Jason Waho gives a thumbs-up after having his Covid jab. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
"Especially during the recent lockdowns, a few of our drivers found themselves queuing for the jab, which meant they just couldn’t find the time to do it," Mr Waho said.

As essential workers, truck drivers had been delivering essential goods across the country regardless of lockdown and restrictions, and easy access to the vaccine was imperative in keeping drivers on the road.

"It’s got to be done.

"There’s still some scepticism out there, but if you don’t get it, you’re going to be left in the dark," Mr Waho said.

Te Kaika principal iwi adviser Matt Matahaere, who led the on-site vaccinations this week, said vaccinating truck drivers helped keep everyone else safer.

"Mainfreight kaimahi are essential workers who aren’t based only in Dunedin but travel across New Zealand, so it’s key that we make vaccination as simple as possible to keep everyone safe. We have to do it for our whanau".

 - By Courtney White

 

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