Kota Kinabalu, 12 June 2021 – After the frontliners and the elderly have been administered COVID-19 vaccines, delivery drivers, riders and staff need to be listed as the priority vaccination group in the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme, said Datuk Richard Yong We Kong.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Secretary-General said e-hailing and food delivery workers are frequently having contacts from various groups and areas in their daily works, they are also prone to gather in group with their peers when waiting for orders.
“They are obliged to get vaccinated fast,” he said in a statement by adding, now that more vaccine doses are available，“Sabah Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF), chaired by State Secretary, need to focus on people whose work require high mobility and wide contacts, to get vaccinated with top priority.
He said if all drivers have been vaccinated, whether on-call or traditional taxis, they will be able to operate more flexibly and passengers will feel at ease, which embodies the slogan of “Protect oneself, protect others (#LindungDiriLindungSemua)”.
Batches of vaccines is in the pipeline to arrive in Sabah, CITF should hasten the vaccination with proper strategy.
According to the records of the Sabah E-hailing Drivers Association (SEHDA), there are currently about 10,000 registered e-hailing drivers across the state, most of them are in urban areas.