KUALA LUMPUR – Drivers for taxis, as well as e-hailing and p-hailing services will see their Covid-19 vaccination appointments expedited following an intervention by the Transport Ministry (MoT).
MoT has received the required lists of names from the respective companies and operators since mid-June, and eligible recipients will be notified by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) for their vaccination sessions.
“I hope CITF can expedite vaccinations for this group of frontliners, starting with 41,488 taxi and e-hailing drivers, and 11,527 p-hailing riders,” said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong on his Facebook page.
“An additional list of 57,931 p-hailing riders has also been submitted for its consideration.
“We want to vaccinate about 40,000 taxi drivers, 110,000 e-hailing drivers, and 154,000 p-hailing riders nationwide as soon as possible.”
Wee reiterated his target to have 80% of taxi and e-hailing drivers vaccinated by National Day, especially in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak.
On the health and safety of taxi and e-hailing drivers, he said the transport and logistics standard operating procedures – updated on June 15 – provide for certain protocols, such as the compulsory wearing of face masks for both driver and passenger and ensuring the passenger has no symptoms.
He said using cashless payments and hand sanitisers before and after boarding a ride are encouraged, adding that drivers must also sanitise their vehicles after ending a ride and when they are done for the day.
His post comes as a response to a question posed by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh on Covid-19 vaccination for taxi and e-hailing drivers. – The Vibes, July 16, 2021
