Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Health Authority have vaccinated all 20,000 drivers that make up the country's taxi and public transport operators.
Nada Jasim, RTA's director of safety, risk, regulation and planning, strategy and corporate governance sector, says RTA kicked off the campaign by alerting employees and encouraging them to take the vaccine shots provided at specialist health centres.
“Mass messages were broadcasted to employees via internal media channels urging them to take the vaccine during this exceptional time. RTA sorted employees who have completed the vaccination per sectors and agencies,” she adds.
The partners prepared an internal centre to vaccinate taxi and bus drivers from January to March and a second centre for other employees from February.
“About 40,000 vaccination shots have been provided for various categories including drivers, front-end staff, metro and tram operators, parking inspectors and all employees along with their interested family members,” Jasim continues.
“The campaign also covered outsourcing employees, school bus drivers, bike delivery riders and limo drivers as part of efforts to ensure the health and safety of all.”
She explains that the centre has been fitted with 30 counters to vaccinate 1,200-1,500 people a day clocking at 150 people an hour.
Precautionary measures have been taken at the centre, including social distancing.
“RTA is committed to the precautionary measures and observing the physical distancing at all times. It reduced the number of those in offices through activating remote working options,” she emphasises.
The RTA is continuing to broadcast awareness messages to all employees and families as well as public transport riders to “ensure the success of public health and the fight against the virus”.
The initiative is now targeting front-line workers and employees at various agencies and sectors of the RTA.
