Truckies praised for logistics behind COVID-19 vaccination roll-out

Truckies have received some well-earned praise for the planning and success of COVID-19 vaccine distribution into regional areas and across Australia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack MP told Parliament that the effort to date was equivalent to a delivery from the earth to the moon.

“The rollout of the vaccine is one of the largest logistical exercises undertaken in this nation’s history,” Deputy Prime Minister said.

“There are 134 vaccination sites around Australia, and nearly 44 per cent of those are in regional Australia.

“In conjunction with the states and territories and their health services, we expect there to be more than 1,000 vaccine sites across the country.

“The initial doses of the vaccine will be available to aged-care and disability-care residents and workers, frontline healthcare workers, and quarantine and border workers.

“The people eligible for the first round of vaccines who live in regional Australia will not be disadvantaged by their postcode, nor should they be.

“Everyone who gets the vaccine will be able to get it close to where they live.”

Mr McCormack said the government is working with both DHL and Linfox to ensure cold chain storage and supply to all Australians, including in rural and remote locations.

He quoted DHL Supply Chain CEO Saul Resnick saying that 341 delivery consignments of vaccines had been completed so far, travelling 397,782km around Australia to get to their destinations.

“That is further than from the moon to the earth. Three cheers for that!”

Mr McCormack said that 49,655 doses of vaccine had delivered by road and by air, intact and within specification.

“I say, ‘Well done,’ to DHL, to those frontline medical personnel and to our truckies, who have done a magnificent job right throughout COVID to make deliveries,” he added.

“Whether it’s the current vaccine roll-out, supplies to supermarkets, face masks or respiratory devices, they’ve done it.

“I say, on behalf of the parliament, ‘Thank you and well done, Truckies.’”