KOTA KINABALU – Air transport workers and others involved in the logistics and supply chain should be given priority on the Covid-19 vaccination list, said a transportation expert from Sabah.
Daniel Doughty, a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport state chapter, told the Vibes that the country’s economy and industries, as well as lives of people in communities risk being disrupted if those in the transportation sector – especially aviation workers – are not vaccinated first.
“The challenge for today is not only that Covid-19 affects the lives of our community, but also the economy and industries, particularly when the supply chain is disrupted,” he said.
He said air transport plays a highly significant role in the logistics sector, along with ports, warehousing, and other activities in the supply chain.
“Aviation workers and everyone involved in the logistics and supply chain should take priority when it comes to vaccination.
“They are key to ensuring the economy continues to thrive for the government, industries, and community,” he said.
A petition was launched by a group of aviation workers recently after concerns were raised that the economy would be affected if those in the transportation sector are infected with Covid-19.
This means airport operations nationwide would come to a halt and distribution of goods and supplies may be immensely reduced as transport companies cut down on deliveries to manage costly operations.
The Vibes had learnt that only aviation workers in Sabah who wish to be vaccinated will get priority for inoculation. Meanwhile in Sarawak, the matter is still being decided by the government. Workers in Peninsular Malaysia are still waiting for vaccination.
One aviation official expressed his concern to The Vibes that airports could close if mass infection occurs among the sector’s workers, affecting the delivery of vaccine supplies to be flown into the country.
Doughty noted that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) has taken the stance that aviation workers should have priority access to vaccination.
“Given the importance of air transport in vaccine distribution, Iata calls on governments to prioritise aviation workers for access to vaccination once the elderly, vulnerable groups, and health workers have been vaccinated,” he said.
“I concur with Iata’s position. However, I would like to address the need to extend prioritisation particularly to all the frontliners in the logistics and supply chain industry,” he said.
Transport workers exposed to virus
Meanwhile, Labuan MP Rozman Isli recently said that transport companies have reduced the frequency of trips sending goods to Labuan, which is a federal territory.
Labuan folk rely on goods and services from Sabah. However, logistics firms have cut down on trips as the costs of drivers and their assistants have risen.
Health authorities have set PCR-RT test results as the only requirement for those from mainland Borneo wanting to enter the island at ferry checkpoints.
Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe concurred that transportation and logistics personnel should be vaccinated as soon as possible.
“The government must implement compulsory vaccination for essential workers as early as we can. As such, transportation and logistics line workers must receive vaccination first.
“This includes aviation, port, or even e-hailing workers. This is because transport workers are, among others, exposed to higher risks as they have to move here and there. We need to protect them,” he said.
Phoong noted that people are getting impatient, which is why many are jumping queues.
“Phase four of the immunisation programme must roll out now. People are getting impatient. That’s why we have seen situations like people jumping queues happening in most centres.
“If the vaccination roll-out programme does not go well, this will be extremely unfair to the essential workers,” he said.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong recently told The Vibes that he had spoken to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin about vaccinating aviation workers.
“Action is done. Spoken to KJ and it is in the pipeline,” said Wee, without specifying when the vaccination exercise would be rolled out.
Phase one of the national vaccination programme involves frontliners like police, health workers, and elected representatives, while phase two involves senior citizens above the age of 60.
Sabah, which has the lowest rate of vaccination in the country, has decided to allow all those 18 years old and above to be immunised. – The Vibes, June 17, 2021
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